Plains Community Garden receives new well

PLAINS – The Plains Community Garden located behind the Plains Alliance Church on Fifth Street, got a new well to help water the 60 gardening plots.
The community garden was started in March 2012 and although many businesses in Plains supported the garden with donations, a lack of water from the church well proved inadequate for the needs of the gardeners.
The church helped acquire funds outside of the normal budget to help provide the community garden with its own water source, a new well.
In February, the Plains Alliance Church elders began the fundraising with announcements at services. After that, a pledge commitment form was distributed to attendees. With donations flowing in, the church approved the new well, helping to bring water and provide the garden with drip irrigation to start off the gardening process.
Garden Director Rena Johnson said the drip irrigation provides a phenomenal success for gardeners, doubling and sometimes even tripling produce.
Butch Tiemeyer of Cyclone Drilling came out the same day the call was made to him by elder George Bursell and facilities chairman, Doug Bratz, and began digging the well.
Water was struck at the 15-foot level and continued until it was 27 feet deep. Tiemeyer said the well was producing 30 gallons a minute, much more water than the gardeners anticipated needing.
“Last year the water was so limited, it was scraping the bottom there,” said Johnson. “It’s amazing how it came together. I’m shocked, surprised and amazingly pleased.”
Johnson explained the garden is indeed a true community garden and the church is not in charge of it.
“The Plains Alliance Church has provided the land, a cash start-up grant, the electricity for the well, and the labor to erect the seven and a half foot deer fence,” stated Johnson in a press release.
An introductory meeting will be held on Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at the community garden. The discussion will focus on drip irrigation and garden planting.
Anyone with questions regarding the community garden can contact Johnson at 826-6625.