The Community Garden in Itasca goes back more than 40 years, but an initiative this summer has given it new life: members started a Giving Garden, with some of its harvest to be donated to the Itasca Food Pantry.

Members of the Itasca Garden Club, including Master Gardener Julie Swets and avid gardener Marty Lundeen, both of Itasca, are driving the new effort.

Earlier this summer, they secured a plot in the Community Garden, before tilling the soil, building a plant trellis, and making a sign for the garden.

"Our motivation was simple," Swets says. "We wanted to find a way to create community, with a diversified group of people who were dedicated to serving others with the gift of fresh produce."

Their idea drew both veteran gardeners, like Bob and Rae Bolstad of Itasca, who have been involved with the Itasca Garden Club for 40 years, as well as several first-time community gardeners.

"The club is always looking for ways to encourage people that have not historically participated," Swets adds. "We thought by introducing this servant aspect, it would draw people to enjoy the hobby."

They started by planting fairly easy vegetables that would yield a bountiful harvest, including tomatoes and peppers ­- both donated by the Itasca Garden Club's annual plant sale - as well as herbs, cucumbers, beans, radishes, lettuce and carrots.

So far, Swets says, they have harvested cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs, but they expect more bountiful crops to come in this month.

Through it all, they say, they are learning as much about gardening as they are harvesting. For starters, they are finding they should have treated their soil before planting, and consequently they are boning up on learning all they can about composting.

They also hope their newfound hobby is taking root with their children who are accompanying them when they work in the garden.

"We wanted our children digging in the dirt," Swets says. "Many kids are unaware of how food gets to the Jewel, and then onto the dinner table.  

"The Itasca Garden Club thought working in the Community Garden would be a wonderful learning tool," she adds, "to show kids how food is grown."

They believe so strongly in passing down a love of gardening to the next generation that they hope to involve school children in the fall harvest, or in next year's garden.