Only a few years ago the empty lot adjacent to the River of Time Museum was an eyesore, accumulating trash and prone to vandalism. Now it’s been transformed into the Fountain Hills Community Garden.

Not a day goes by that a resident or visitor doesn’t stop at the fence line to marvel at the garden beds. It’s become a vibrant reminder that Fountain Hills is a happening place, a town where residents have pride of ownership and a shared sense of community.

Countless volunteers and donors have made the garden what it is today, enhancing the beauty and value of town property in a high foot traffic area.

Since inception, we’ve been growing greens, vegetables, herbs, flowers and berries. A team of volunteers regularly harvests from the donation beds and deliver fresh produce to the Extended Hands Food Bank.

We’re an environmentally safe garden.

Being strictly organic, our members don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals being used by other members. We are not polluting the water, air or soil. Our composting program gives members the opportunity to recycle their kitchen scraps and reduce landfill space. We collect coffee grounds from the local Starbucks as another method of recycling for nutrients.

Through seed donations received from Native Seeds in Tucson, we grew Hopi watermelon, Chimayo cantaloupe, Castroville okra, Tohono O’odham cowpeas and Yoeme Purple string beans last summer. This year we plan to have more native seed beds growing corn, squash, gourds and beans.

Our next monthly social is on Wednesday, April 11. It starts at 6 p.m. If you’re not a member yet, you can sign up on the spot. We’ll be sharing seeds and you can find out what we’ll be growing this summer. It’s a lot more fun than watching the nightly news!