Through April 8, Norristown Sprouts Community Garden is accepting applications from residents, schools, and organizations that wish to sign up for a free garden plot. The garden’s purpose is to provide access to nutritious foods, a space for neighbors to connect, and to be an avenue to promote physical and mental health among Norristown residents.

Plots are available for individuals, couples, families, or even organizations. Norristown Sprouts is open to individuals of all skill levels and is inclusive of all languages, cultural backgrounds, physical abilities, and all things that make the community members unique.

The garden offers free seeds and seedlings, rich soil and compost, gardening tools to use while on site, gardening and nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, wellness workshops, and activities for adults and children.

Last fall, during the garden’s inaugural season, gardener Dionne Lee said, “My son and I get to enjoy each other’s company while learning about gardening and watching the fruits and vegetables grow. My son’s favorite part of the garden is finding all of the little critters like the caterpillars, crickets, and grasshoppers that enjoy the garden too. We thought it would be a cute idea to decorate our bed for the students to enjoy.”

Individuals can learn more about the garden, apply for a plot, or learn about how to volunteer by visiting here.

Applications for garden plots are accepted through April 8, 2022. Once the 40-bed garden is full, applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

Garden plots are located at Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy at 1601 Markley Street in Norristown.

Norristown Sprouts Community Garden was founded in 2021 by the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH), with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Preventative Health and Human Services Block Grant.

The garden is a partnership between MCOPH and Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy. Norristown Sprouts is maintained collectively by community members and staff from MCOPH.

For more information about the garden, contact Garden Coordinator, Shanita Fields at norristownsprouts@montcopa.org or (267) 433-8551.