Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Rosemary Charles helps Miriam Smith pick beets after discussing fertilizer ideas recently at the Community Garden in Escanaba. The Community Garden rents plots to residents to grow vegetables.

ESCANABA — Container gardening has become popular in recent years and very useful when property is scarce. When a bigger garden is needed, the residents of Escanaba have the Community Gardens.

The Community Garden is made up of plots of land 30 feet by 30 feet, offered for a rental fee by The Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) office. The plots are located at the corner of M-35 (South Lincoln Road) and 23rd Avenue South. Each plot is rented from May to October.

Rebecca Krans, horticultural specialist of MSUE, said “plots are available based on demand.”

Miriam Smith has been a community gardener 12 to 13 years. “Before I came here, I remember gardening by the Wells rink a long time ago — approximately 40 years,” she said.

Plot rental is based on how many people return from year to year, then on seniority. New renters may choose a plot after previous years’ renters have chosen their plots. This year, some plots were left vacant.

“I’ve had a garden here for three years. Each year is different… this year, my green beans and tomatoes are doing very well.” said Cathy Pearce, a community gardener. “I like to come out here every other day to keep the weeds in check.”

The city of Escanaba provides land to MSUE for the gardens. Money for the plots go towards payment of items used by the gardeners.

Krans has been involved with the gardens for two years. There are two master gardeners that help answer questions gardeners may have. Gardeners are made aware what days the master gardeners will be at the garden.

Rosemary Charles is one of those master gardeners. “There are days I feel I’ve learned more from the gardeners then…been asked questions,” she said.

Each year the MSUE office kicks off the season with a meeting in the spring. In May, the garden area is tilled up by cultivators drawn by teams of horses. The garden is then ready for the season of planting.

Monica Jean has helped Krans work the soil. “Monica has built the soil up and helped with fertilizers.” said Krans. Soil conditioning is one of the classes in the spring.

The community garden is supplied with water and each gardener is asked to bring their own hose if they want to retrieve water. The area gets a lot of sun and the ground is very sandy. A bin is provided to discard any compost items. “The compost area is organized and coordinated better,” said Krans.

There are wood-chips available for mulching and a porta-potty for the gardeners.

Krans said there are some rules at the gardens. “At this time the ground is too high in phosphorus, so gardeners are allowed to use fertilizers approved by MSUE, along with approved pesticides.”

“The only down side to gardening here is, you can’t grow perennials.” said Charles. “And there’s a deer and rabbit problem if you don’t make it hard for the deer and rabbits to eat.”

“I grow the same things here every year and use liquid fence,” said Smith. “The area is sandy and does need fertilizer.”

Krans hopes for future classes and demonstrations at the gardens.

“Some of the plots are just beautiful. You can tell who has the time to come out here more often,” Charles said.

William and Susan Osburn have a garden plot and check it often to see how the plants their grandchildren planted are doing.

“Everything is growing good here.” said Susan Osburn. “I didn’t know how the tomatoes were going to end up. My seven year old granddaughter planted, what I thought were tomato twigs. I didn’t think they were going to grow. But here they are.”

Susan is from Alabama and made it to the U.P. by way of Miss., Ga. and Alaska. She’s trying a southern vegetable, okra, in her northern garden.

By Oct. 15 each gardener must clear their plot for the next season.

If you are interested in garden plot contact the MSUE office at 906-786-3032.