Marty Ahart is the new director of the Community Garden, just off San Juan Valley Road, sponsored by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

She succeeds Bequin Lapwing, who began “The Garden” and facilitated its first growing season. Lapwing will remain on the task force working on the garden.

“Marty brings many years of gardening experience with a great ‘dig in and get the work done’ attitude to the garden as well as a real enthusiasm for people to grow their own food in a supporting community,” Pastor William Hurtado said.

The beginning group of gardeners this year found opportunities to grow basil, beans, cabbage, chard, corn, peas, poppy seed, pumpkins, spinach, sunflowers, tomatoes, winter squash, and a great variety of flowers and herbs for beauty and personal use.

“These garden plots are contributing a great deal to several households’ food supplies,” Ahart said.

Anyone wanting a plot to grow plants for their personal use should contact Ahart by e-mail at gardener.marty@gmail.com. A small fee is charged to cover the cost of water.

Donations are being accepted to cover the cost of a water catchment and drip system.