Even if you don’t have a green thumb, a stroll through the Menomonie Community Gardens can be a beautiful thing.  Anyone can stop by and enjoy the sight of growing things, or reserve their own spot to get gardening. Menomonie Community Gardens, located in Phelan Park, has manifested a place to curate that joy. The whole idea behind the garden is laid out simply in the organization’s mission statement: “Menomonie Community Gardens’ purpose is to create a place of sustainable agriculture, horticulture education, and community. Our goal is to contribute to a legacy of stewardship for generations to come through leading by example.” The garden boasts 94 spaces for the public to rent, including no-till plots, among a total of 115 20-by-25-foot gardens. The gardeners are provided with water access, tools, and mulch and manure when available throughout the season, which typically spans from early May to the end of September. All gardening must be done using organic methods, and all produce that you grow is yours to eat, donate, or share! Three plots are set aside for food share purposes, and produce is donated to local community tables. Members grow raspberries, rhubarb, asparagus, and fruit trees. “The garden after several years in operation began a shift from people coming to attend to their plot to being a community of gardeners caring about the space and each other,” said Mary Lotten, president of the organization. Applications for plots go online March 1, 2020. For more information about the garden or to apply for a space, visit www.menomoniecommunitygardens.com.