“Dig! Dowagiac” is coming up behind the DUHS auto shop.

Q: How’s the community garden growing? — Teri Frantz

Guided by six board members, “Dig! Dowagiac” is getting ready for its second planting June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Everyone is welcome as they raise awareness as well as crops destined for ACTION and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church meals program come harvest time.

“This year is about access to gardening,” board member Lisa Thorne said Thursday. “If someone is interested, they can try their hand.”

Call their dedicated line at (269) 783-5656 if you want to get involved.

The garden has a nice fenced location with water behind the auto shop on the corner of West Prairie Ronde and North Paul Street (Middle Crossing Road) next to Union High School.

Lisa, who is on the board along with Pennie Hammond, Jody Crandall, Vicki Gross, Carol Heflin of Foodies and Linsey Tankersley, will be gardening every Wednesday evening during June.

“It’s a nice, big space. It took us all by surprise,” Lisa said of the grassy expanse also containing a shade tree and a shed.

She moved to Dowagiac five years ago from Kalamazoo, where she was involved with the Growing Matters Garden, with an urban education component.

She is building its website, or follow Dig! Dowagiac on Facebook.

Over Memorial Day weekend, the first planting of seedlings or “starts” included 40 to 60 tomato plants, peppers that are budding, herbs, broccoli, zucchini, cabbage and eggplant.

Vegetable seeds go in the ground Wednesday.

In addition to participating in the communal plots for $15, individual 10-by-10-foot parcels are available for $20.