Community Garden Sprouting in Odessa

An all natural source of food will soon be available to the community. Work is under way on the Odessa Community Garden.

Odessa Organic Market founder John Ciani is spurring the project.

"The goal is to get the community involved all the way around," Ciani said. "Whether it's the garden, market or Green After Dark. That's what I really wanted. That was my goal when I started on this."

About 20 volunteers began working on the garden on Saturday planting five beds. Another five will be planted this Saturday, March 17.

The effort is completely volunteer with donations by local businesses. Ocean Solutions supplied fertilizers, and Pizza Fusion Westchase supplied the blocks that surround each garden bed.

Magnolia Organics is donating the seeds for the garden, Ciani said.

"We're all just trying to raise awareness of organics and what it takes to produce something like that," said MJ Logan, sales and marketing director for Magnolia Organics. "It's a great thing for the community there, and it's really great to see all the people come together to put such a great thing in action."

The garden is expected to begin sprouting in the summer. Once the garden gets going volunteers can donate time to water or weed the garden, which will entitle them to free pickings from the garden. The public can also purchase produce from the garden.

Plans are still under way for what will grow in the garden, but Ciani said it would likely include lettuces, greens, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and other vegetables.

"Our goal is to position our beds to keep stuff growing all summer," Ciani said.

Ciani described the garden as "another option for fresh food." He hopes to "get people eating better and eating right and eating local."

Want to volunteer?

Contact John Ciani at  813-944-8654.