Kerndt Brothers Bank and Lansing Fitness Center host Joint Community Garden Project ...

Kerndt Brothers Bank and the Lansing Fitness Center in Lansing have joined together to provide a community garden space to benefit local residents seeking space to grow a vegetable garden. Four raised beds have been placed and outfitted behind the Fitness Center at 51 North Fifth Street in Lansing for the use of four individuals or families as vegetable gardens. An opportunity to reserve a vegetable garden was offered to residents beginning May 20 for either their own use, or for the benefit of those in need in the community. Those who claim a raised bed need to provide their own plants and gardening tools. Water will be available for irrigation from the Fitness Center.

“Ever since I took on the Fitness Center three years ago, I felt the space out back would be a perfect spot to grow vegetables with bright sunshine all day long,” said Maryann Baldwin, owner of the Fitness Center. “When Amy mentioned her desire for this project, it all came together quickly!”

Amy Stracener, Marketing Director of Kerndt Brothers Bank stated, “Bringing the bank to the community is what I love most about what I do. The idea for a community garden came to mind this spring, after having to try so hard to be apart from one another. With Maryann’s generous offer to ‘plant’ her yard our mutual desire to grow things has taken root. My hope beyond the obvious health and wellness benefit is that the gardens bring to residents - both for those who work in the gardens and for those who’ll benefit from the gardens - a sense of community.”

The partners hope a strong show of interest will lead to expansion in the future. Given the late start this year Lansing’s Community Garden will be a pilot project. If all goes well Kerndt Brothers Bank would like to add community gardens in each of its markets next year, according to Stracener. For more information, contact Amy Stracener, Kerndt Brothers Bank at 563-538-4231, x0168 or astracener@kerndtbrothers.com, or Maryann Baldwin, Lansing Fitness Center at 319-573-1955 or lansingfitcenter@gmail.com. Submitted photo.