INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Community Health Network is looking to sprout new gardeners at its farm in Anderson.

The health group teamed up with Bloom Madison County — a nonprofit focused on addressing food insecurity in the area. This growing season, they started two garden clubs — the Bloomers and the Seedlings.

The Bloomers club is made up of adults looking to pick up gardening. While the Seedlings club is oriented toward kids.

Bloom Madison Co-Director Anna Ulam says the goal is to make the hobby more approachable.

“We’ve had a lot of different weather situations,” Ulam said. “It’s been really great for our participants to see even with a master’s degree and all the money you could have farming, that they still have a lot of issues [they can run into].”

In a good growing year, the Community Farm in Anderson can produce nearly 30,000 pounds of food. It then uses that food in the Community Health kitchen and food pantries.

According to Community Health, Madison County frequently ranks in the top 15 of the most food-insecure counties in the Hoosier state.

The director of the Community Farm in Anderson, Mikkal Hodge, says the club plays right into the farm’s purpose.

“Our mission is to help people learn how to grow and use food,” Hodge said. “These two clubs are bringing people from the community to this farm, not only letting them see what we do and learn how to grow things, but they also get to learn how to take and eat and consume good produce.”

Since starting up, the clubs have 24 Garden beds producing fruits and veggies like radishes, bok choy, lettuce, arugula, kale, spinach, and strawberries, among others.

Leveda Glazebrooks is a regular member of the Bloomers Club. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.

She says her doctors at Community Health recommended the program for her recovery.

“It actually helped me understand the nourishment between food and wellness,” Glazebrooks said. “You can pick for free. This works well with my budget. Also, they educate us. It’s a good resource for fresh-to-table, [in] your home.”

The clubs are free to join. Both clubs meet every Wednesday — the Bloomers at 9:00 a.m. and the Seedlings at 5:30 p.m.

The Community Farm is located at 1701 Medical Arts Blvd, Anderson, IN.

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