Cooperative extension hosts demonstration garden

by University of Nevada

Cooperative Extension

As more people become interested in growing their own food, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension has a new tool to help them get started. Join cooperative extension anytime 5 - 9 p.m. Wednesday for a tour of the new West Street Market Urban Agriculture Demonstration Garden.

The demonstration garden is on West Street between First and Second streets in downtown Reno and features edible annual and perennial plants grown commercially and privately by growers in northern Nevada.

All of the plants were grown locally, many by Nevada's Own Perennials. The garden tours will include information about the types of edible plants that grow well in our region, and illustrate ideas for incorporating them into an attractive home landscape.

The garden was planted June 27 and is part of the median strip on the City of Reno's West Street Market. Wednesday's tours evening are part of the grand opening of the EcoNight Market on West Street with the theme, EcoGardening " Let it Grow.

The demonstration garden is a collaborative project led by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and including the City of Reno, Truckee Meadows Permaculture Guild, EnAct (a University of Nevada, Reno student club), Local Food System Network of Nevada and West Street community volunteers.

Leslie Allen, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension commercial horticulturist, designed the demonstration garden and installed it with help from volunteers from the partnering groups.

"This demonstration garden shows people that it is possible to grow food in an urban environment," Allen said.

She said many people erroneously think many foods can't be grown in Nevada.

"The fact is, the Truckee Meadows used to be filled with small family farms. The garden demonstrates that urban agriculture can be a viable and vital component in creating a secure local food system."

For information, contact Allen at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension at allenl@unce.unr.edu.