The grant monies will be used to build raised beds, which will help reduce access to the growing gopher population by using wire mesh at the base of each raised bed. It will also help hold in soils that are rich in nutrients. Some of the funds will be spend on irrigation and repairs on current irrigation.
The garden, tended to entirely by volunteers, is open to the entire community of Copperopolis. Each month the vegetables and produce that are not picked immediately prior to local food pantry distribution dates are harvested, again by volunteers, and brought to the food pantry in boxes, barrels and bags to be given to local families in need. "We have seen a large growth in public use" said Chairperson Jack Jimenez. "Its nice." At the garden there is a sign in sheet for comments and to mark down what was harvested. Keeping track of what is harvested helps the garden group plan what to plant the following season.
The community garden group meets monthly the second Tuesday evening of each month at 5:30 at the Copperopolis library. At the meeting "volunteer input is valuable" says Jimenez.
The Community Garden is a sub group under Copperopolis Parks and Rec.
