Mesa is looking for people with a green thumb to start the city's first community garden, and a workshop is scheduled to outline the steps in establishing one.
The city decided to create a garden after it was proposed by residents through the year-long iMesa initiative to generate ideas for improving the city.
Now, Mesa is looking for individuals or organizations who can establish community connections, identify a location, define costs, seek funding through grants and sponsorships, and see the project through construction. Mesa will provide some startup costs, which may include getting water to the site, waiving permits or fees, fencing and other amenities.
If you are interested, submit a proposal to the city by Feb. 16. Submissions can be mailed to iMesa Community Garden Initiative, Attn: Donna DiFrancesco, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ, 85211. Or fax it to (480) 644-4774 or e-mail to donna.difrancesco@mesaaz.gov.
The plan must be less than 2,000 words and include an organization/team description, project goals and implementation plan, promotion and marketing, partnerships, community connections and project timeline.
For more information on eligibility requirements, go to www.mesaaz.gov/sustainability/CommunityGarden.aspx.
For additional help, attend the free Living Green Workshop at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First St. For more information, go to www.mesaaz.gov/sustainability.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com





