Cameron Community Garden plots available to gardeners

Gardeners and green thumbs wanting to get a fresh start on the spring season can claim a plot in Cameron University’s Community Garden, located on the south side of Ole Kim Lane west of Southwest 38th Street.

For the past several months, the garden has undergone soil renovation to improve gardening space and increase crop yields, thanks to funding from the Buck and Irene Clements Endowed Lectureship in Agriculture, according to a press release. The soil was sifted to remove coarse soil, debris and foreign matter that impedes growth. The soil was then fortified with topsoil and fill sand to improve soil texture and make it more amenable to gardening. Lastly, the soil quality was fertilized with the help of local garden center experts.

In the past 15 years, gardeners have produced a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, okra, squash, green beans, cucumbers, strawberries, corn, pumpkin and various types of peppers, the release said. Herbs have also been favored crops.

Dr. Matt Van Zant, chair of the Department of Agriculture, Biology, and Health Sciences, said people can always ask if they’re concerned about what to plant.

“Most people plant fruits and vegetables,” Van Zant said. “Everything has to be planted in the ground. You can’t have things in containers. The only restriction is no hemp or cannabis or any other state or federally illegal plants. Really, anything that will grow out there.”

Sometimes people plant flowers as well.

“We had a lot of sunflowers last year,” Van Zant said. “Some people do grow flowers.”

There are lots of benefits to gardening.

“People can grow food for their self and their family,” Van Zant said. “A lot of people produce a lot of stuff. Some people will can items to maybe save money. It’s also a hobby for some people, helps their mental health, just to get out and have an activity to do. This gives people an opportunity if they don’t have space at their home or if they live in an apartment or a dorm. We offer a space for them to do that. People can exchange ideas, talk to people and develop some friendships by being out there.”

And people love it.

“We have a lot of people that come back year after year,” Van Zant said. “A lot of people are out there spending a lot of time putting in a lot of work. We certainly have a lot of people that enjoy it enough to keep wanting to return.”

They plan to keep the gardens running through fall, Van Zant said. They only ask for gardeners to respect the plots and maintain their own gardens.

“We provide the space, but we don’t maintain anyone’s plants for them,” Van Zant said.

A watering system runs throughout the garden, though gardeners must provide their own hoses and sprinklers as well as any other equipment they need to tend their gardens, the release said. They are also required to supply their own seeds and transplants.

Sign ups for plots are on a first come, first serve basis. Currently, there are 18 plots available. Anyone can reserve a plot, but they are running out fast. Sign up by calling the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences at (580) 581-2373 or email mvansant@cameron.edu.