Kildare Community Garden coming

There are exciting things coming to Kildare in 2026.

The Kildare Community Center has been a hotbed for informative meetings.

I received information from Community Garden Organizer Niccqueta Varmall about an exciting new community initiative project.

“We are launching the Kildare Community Garden, a community-led project focused on local food access, hands-on education, and intergenerational engagement. The garden will serve as a shared growing space where residents of all ages, youth, families, and seniors, can volunteer together, learn practical gardening skills, and reconnect with the land through sustainable food production,” Varmall said.

“The project is currently in its early launch phase. We are preparing the site, coordinating soil testing and bed preparation, and organizing a community meetand- greet that will invite residents to learn what’s coming, sign up to volunteer, and participate in upcoming planting days. Youth involvement, including 4-H engagement, and educational programming are key components of the garden’s design.”

This is a huge initiative for our community.

Varmall said the initiative matters because it, expands access to locally grown food, activates shared land for public benefit, creates hands-on educational opportunities and brings the community together around wellness, stewardship and collaboration.

Just recently, Varmall sent information about the community meeting held at the Kildare Community Center.

“I serve as the Community Garden Coordinator for the Kildare Community Center and will also be coordinating efforts within Cass County, working in direct partnership with Larry Allen and local residents,” Varmall said. “The meeting was a meaningful and well-attended conversation focused on building a longterm ecosystem of wellness for the area centering on local agriculture, nutrition, education, youth engagement, and legacy stewardship. Residents gathered to discuss food access, summer farm opportunities for youth, protection of farmland, and community-first approaches to growing and sharing food.”

There will be more to come from this initiative in the upcoming months.

Their next scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Kildare Community Center.