• Article Photo. This block was flooded in June of 2008. Two years later, it will become a Community Youth Garden.
    This block was flooded in June of 2008. Two years later, it will become a Community Youth Garden.

 

A special garden project is coming to Vinton. 

With the cooperative efforts of the City of Vinton, Vinton Parks & Recreation Department, ISU Extension of Benton County, both 4-H and the Master Gardeners, we are pleased to announce that a community garden will be started shortly on a green space at the corner of 2nd Street and 4th Avenue in Vinton. That green space is where homes that were flooded in 2008 were sold to the city and removed.  

The garden is for children in 4th - 8th grade, who will help design and plant vegetable and flower gardens.  The Benton County Master Gardeners will teach them the basics of gardening and help them maintain the gardens through weekly meetings in June and July.  A nutrionist will also give tips on healthy meal and snack preparation from the produce they grow. 

The garden participants may also be involved in the Farmers' Market depending upon the growing year.  4th and 5th grade students had flyers sent home and 6th, 7th and 8th graders may pick up flyers at the Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School office. 

Parents are welcome to participate with their children.  Registrations are due now at the Benton County Extension Office.  The first meeting will be 3:30 pm on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the Benton County Extension Office, 501 1st Avenue, Vinton.  If you have any questions, please contact the Benton County Extension Office at 319-472-4739.