Did you know Windmill Island has a community garden?

Beckett Eich
·2 min read

HOLLAND — Living in downtown Holland has its advantages, and one of them is being able to grow my own fruits and vegetables nearby — in the public garden at Windmill Island.

I have always been interested in growing my own food and growing plants. In 2017, when I was 9 years old, I first heard about public gardens available to rent seasonally at Windmill Island. I jumped at the opportunity.

The idea of renting a garden plot at Windmill Island appealed to me. It was close enough to bike to. Our family has a small city lot downtown, which makes it hard for us to have a garden at home.

The community garden at Windmill Island offers space and tools for residents to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.
The community garden at Windmill Island offers space and tools for residents to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.

The community gardens were also appealing because all the supplies are included, including the watering hose and tool shed, with many different types of gardening equipment.

I appreciated the all-organic approach to farming, even if it meant dealing with pests. This meant the soil stayed clean of chemicals and safe for everyone to plant.

The newer, sturdy and well-built fence is one of the biggest reasons I continue to rent a plot each year. It keeps out the larger pests that would otherwise eat the plants if I planted them at home.

Along the way, I've learned many things about gardening.

Beckett Eich has been harvesting crops, like fresh beans, at the Windmill Island community garden since he was nine.
Beckett Eich has been harvesting crops, like fresh beans, at the Windmill Island community garden since he was nine.

One of the first important bits of information was how to read seed packets. On the back of each, there's a lot of information about the plant, including planting distance, water needs and time until the plant will produce. The planting distance instructions helped me avoid overplanting.

I also learned the importance of tilling the tougher clay-like soil and, in more recent years, the need to dig trenches and mounds. These trenches and mounds collect and direct water, which means better watered plants in summer heat.

At first, I had some struggles with melon-eating bugs that would destroy my watermelon sprouts. Because of the all-organic approach, I had to find a work-around instead of using pesticides. I found that by planting the seeds later in the season, the bugs wouldn’t eat them at all.

I choose to continue to rent a plot at Windmill Island for many reasons, including affordability. Lots are available for a one-time payment of $40 for the season. The garden offers 48 plots.

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The community garden provides a unique experience for anyone willing to put in the time and patience. Prospective gardeners can learn more about what it takes to grow your own garden at cityofholland.com/1143/our-gardens.

— Beckett Eich is a resident of downtown Holland.

About This Series:MiSustainable Holland is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives.This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme: Community and Neighborhood: The places we live and the individuals we interact with support the development of our personalities and perspectives on life. Encouraging vital and effective communities is essential.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Did you know Windmill Island has a community garden?