Soda Springs Community Gardens Hosts Free Events

Whether you have been gardening for 50 years, are simply contemplating getting your hands dirty for the first time, or just want to get outside after our chilly winter months, Soda Springs Community Gardens provides free classes to meet your needs. 

Classes have already begun, and Saturday, April 20, 2024, Jeanine Robinett hosted an open discussion on container gardening. She covered everything we wanted to know about starting or expanding a garden and using containers to start seeds.

The topic included pointers about what types of plastic containers to use, how to choose food grade plastics, what size containers to select based on the depth and width of your plants, how to use containers to cover plants and protect them from the cold, and when to put your plants outside.

Jeanine’s gardening wisdom spans the life of plants from seedlings to compost, always shared with laughter and simplicity. Following are a few of her quotes from this Saturday’s gathering:

“Use a drill to put holes in your plastic containers for drainage. Many plastics are too tough for a knife.

The best plastics for plants are #2 or #5 grade. Check the bottom of your container.

The depth of your container should allow enough room for the roots to grow. A plant may die if it doesn’t have enough space.

Consider how much light can seep into your plastic container to match the needs of your plant.

Unlike planting directly into the ground, containers allow more control over the growth and placement of your plants. You may want to use containers for plants that spread and take over your garden.

A great way to transition your plants to the outdoors is to take your plants outside during the day and bring them in at night for a couple of weeks before you move them out for the summer. Or you can put them outside and cover with another container at night. This allows the plants to adjust to the cooler nighttime temperatures.

When growing seeds, the secret to successful gardening is to plant a lot because you are going to kill a lot.”

This Spring is Soda Springs Community Gardens third season. It is run by volunteers and subsists on donations. Donations of seeds, containers, soil, gardening space, and money are welcome. For donations contact Jeannine Robinett, 612-804-8548.

Gardening areas are currently provided by the following: First Presbyterian Church of Soda Springs provides a church funded garden in their back yard (plots of 3x10 are open for families or individuals); Caribou Jack’s provides a high tunnel greenhouse behind their building (currently full – wait list is available); Jerry Brown provides space on his land north of Soda Springs for root crops. All spaces are shared, and anyone is welcome to join in the work and the harvest.  If you are interested in having a garden space, please contact one of the Board members.

Soda Springs Community Gardens keeps a small library of gardening books and magazines anyone may borrow. These are stored at the Robinett Studio.

Classes and events are held monthly. Find upcoming events in the Events Calendar of The Idaho Enterprise, or on FB sodaspringscommunitygardens.

Here’s a taste of gardening fun to come:

Container Gardening April 27, 2024, 2:00 p.m., at The Robinett Studio, 380 S. 3rd E, Soda Springs (repeat of the April 20th class),

Every 3rd Saturday April-October 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. the Community 

Gardens will host a plant exchange-bring plants to share or pick up new ones,

Work parties at the gardens will be on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 6:30 pm  at the Church,. Caribou Jack’s on Wednesday’s, time TBD, and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. The North Garden will meet Mondays and Fridays. One morning, one evening. Detailed calendar events will be available beginning June.

Future classes will include topics such as canning, preservation, harvesting, rhubarb related items, and more.

Board Members:  Jeannine Robinett, President; Nathan Sobers, Vice-President; Tash McClatchy, Secretary; Veda Mascarenas, Treasurer; Garden Site Managers, Stephanie Funk (for Caribou Jack’s), Veda Mascarenas (Church garden), Ann and Barry Everett (North Garden).