This Saturday, May 19 marks a milestone in the formation of the Ceres Community Garden - planting day.

Ground broke on Feb. 27 at the garden site at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Fifth streets in downtown Ceres but nothing has been planted yet in the raised beds constructed.

Beginning at 8 a.m. volunteers will be out to plant a variety of vegetables and summer crops donated by Scott's Miracle Grow. They will include lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes and herbs. Anyone may show up to volunteer but must fill out a form that will be provided at the event.

The Ceres Garden Club plans to provide native pollinator and non-pollinator plants around the perimeter of the garden.

The garden is being organized by CivicSpark, a Governor's Initiative AmeriCorps program dedicated to building capacity for local governments to address water management issues.

"We are hoping to put together a community of residents and organizations on a decision making committee," said Sarah Kuo of CivicSpark.

Ceres residents interested in serving on the garden committee must submit an application to the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite E, Modesto CA 95358. Applications may be obtained by emailing programs@eaststanrcd.org or by calling 287-3672.

The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District will be reviewing the applications and heading the committee.
"We are so excited to get this process started as my program ends in August and will no longer be able to spearhead this project," said Kuo.

Girl Scouts from Troop #3238 will be offering a small library at the site.

Kuo said that volunteers will be rewarded with produce that's produced in the garden.

"No one can just come in and take whatever they want," said Kuo. "We want to make the garden as inclusive as possible and make it so that any groups or individuals who want to get involved can get involved."