The Niles Community Garden effort, which took roots last spring, is growing rapidly.

The community gardens, which are shared plots of land where members can grow food for themselves or for sale, began last year with 14 volunteers. The group now consists of 70 people, and there are more gardens and classes planned for this year.

Plans are in the works to plant community gardens at Northside Childhood Development Center, Niles High School and Cedar Lane Alternative High School, according to community gardens organizer Mark VanTil.

Nutritional classes, sponsored by the Niles Community Gardens, Niles Community Schools and Michigan State Extension, are being offered this month as well. The classes, taught by a nutrition expert at Michigan State Extension and VanTil, will take place Feb. 3, 10 and 17 at 6 p.m. at Northside.

VanTil says the classes are for both adults and children and focus on the “new food pyramid.”

“That groups all the foods into their nutritional context,” he said. “It encourages people to eat foods of different color — a green, white, red and orange vegetable. All those colors represent different vitamins and minerals that the human body needs.”

VanTil, who spearheaded the community garden effort last year, said Niles Superintendent Richard Weigel approached him about bringing community gardens to the schools.

The gardens will help students in their “integrated studies,” VanTil said.

“It will combine science, art, social studies and different subjects with the community garden thing,” he said. “It’s also teaching good stewardship to the earth.”

Other projects for the year include rejuvenating the high school green house to grow vegetables, starting a worm farm and planting a pumpkin patch at Northside. The pumpkins grown at the school will be sold to benefit school projects.

The gardens will be planted beginning in April with cold weather crops like potatoes, onions, cabbage and spinach. The gardeners will plant the warm weather crops at the end of May.

VanTil said the community gardeners will continue to donate surplus food to food banks and pantries in the community this year.