According to Dixon Library Branch Manager Nancy Redfield, the community garden offers plots that can be rented by Dixonites and the space will serve both children’s and adults’ educational programs. Photo by Nicolas Brown

DIXON, CA (MPG) - The morning of July 12, the Dixon Public Library grounds came alive with community spirit as local volunteers gathered for the community garden workday from 8 a.m. to noon. The event, held at 230 N. First St., was hosted in collaboration with the Master Gardeners of Solano County and Sustainable Solano.

According to library branch manager Nancy Redfield, this garden is what the community wants.

“This is what the community wants. These beds will be rented to community members to grow whatever they like. Also, the library is going to use the space for children's and adult educational programs,” said Redfield.

The July workday marked a milestone in the library’s summer-long initiative to bring a community garden to life. The project began with informational sessions led by Sustainable Solano. These sessions invited community input on garden design and stewardship, emphasizing its educational and social potential.

The community garden project began with informational sessions hosted by Sustainable Solano. The Master Gardeners helped with planning the garden. Kristin Johns, a Master Gardeners representative, was present throughout the workday. Photo by Nicolas Brown

A highlight of the day was the presence of Kristin Johns, a Solano County Master Gardeners representative, who worked side by side with volunteers, including families, students and lifelong residents; to construct rentable garden plots. Dixon Library is partnering with Master Gardeners to further support the communal garden and the residents who utilize it.

“Master Gardeners work to educate the community about gardening and plants. We put on a lot of free workshops to help community members learn about gardening. Anyone can join when they go through our educational programs and we offer students community service opportunities,” said Johns.

The Master Gardeners of Solano County are a part of the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) division.

Dixon Public Library, in partnership with Sustainable Solano and the Master Gardeners of Solano County, hosted a community garden workday from 8 a.m. to noon July 12. Photo by Nicolas Brown

According to the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources’s website at ucanr.edu, the organization is committed to research-based education, sustainable practices and an eco-conscious mindset. This mission statement reflects the goals of the Dixon Library: to uplift, educate and empower Dixonites through agriculture.

“Dixon is a farming community, so if you can’t do it at home, you can do it here,” said Redfield.

For more information about the Master Gardeners of Solano County, visit ucanr.edu.

For more information about the community garden, visit solanolibrary.com or call 1-866-572-7587.