A new community garden sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Health is about to sprout in Norristown, and it currently has plots available for use, writes Kenny Cooper for the WHYY.

“The purpose of the Norristown Sprouts Community Garden will be to improve access to fresh local produce and to promote healthy eating,” said David Genova, director of health promotion for the Montgomery County Office of Community Information and Education.

The Sprouts garden was originally envisioned in November, but finding an available space was not easy. Thankfully, Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy approved the use of part of its land in March.

“As far as the last few months, we’ve really been focused on building the garden,” said Shanita Fields, a community health educator for the county Office of Community Information and Education.

While a community garden is a place where the community comes together to plant and grow food, the organizers have bigger plans than just this for the future.

“We want a space for children and adults to be able to explore, practice teamwork – empower us to be supporters for our own community and for ourselves,” said Genova.

Read more about the community garden in WHYY.