SAGINAW, MI —

Padraic Ingle at the

hope to make urban gardens common in Saginaw by teaching interested residents.

But he said they can't do it alone.

"I challenge individuals to step up and donate," said the Saginaw resident.

After the garden's first year at the southwest corner of South Washington and Federal in downtown Saginaw, the members have plans to expand the reach of the garden by providing produce to people in a share program, to Saginaw restaurants and teaching monthly cooking and gardening classes.

To complete the plans and help bring Saginaw back, he said, the group needs support from the community.

While they need about $2,000 for soil, materials, tools, water and gasoline, he said, they could use $10,000 to make improvements.

Ingle said the garden plans to share produce with area restaurants, including Fralia's, Magic Bean Cafe, Savoy Restaurant and Pasong's Cafe at cooperative table and with the public at a community table at the Saginaw Farmers Market.

The

is full, he said, where people pay to receive a weekly share of the produce. Anyone interested could enter a waiting list and there might be enough produce to add more members to the program, Ingle said.

At the downtown garden, the members constructed several raised beds and placed wire arbors between them to grow peas, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes. An 8,400-square-foot plot will hold corn, squash and beans.

Ingle said the group is growing many types of produce, including four types of tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red-skinned potatoes, four types of peppers, kale, leeks, broccoli, cabbage, fennel, basil, thyme and even wildflowers to attract butterflies.

All crops are organic and not genetically modified.

Responding to concern about the soil, Ingle said he tested the soil last year and will test it again this year. Tests showed the soil is safe, and added many people have misconceptions about lead contamination.

Lead in soil does not get into plants, he said, and there is more danger from breathing it in or directly ingesting contaminated soil.

The group is seeking sponsors for four plots along Washington Avenue, who will have signs facing the road to show their sponsorship.

Ingle said he's looking into putting up a fence and bringing in chickens to eat all the weeds in the field.

While last year Grow Saginaw hoped to use Saginaw Lank Bank lots for gardens, the group now is focusing on contacting schools, organizations and churches to start gardens.

The YMCA of Saginaw has a raised straw bale garden that kids will plant at Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, and the YMCA will decide what to do with the produce.

Ingle said two Saginaw schools also are working on partnerships with Grow Saginaw.

At the Saginaw Farmers Market, Ingle said, the group will offer monthly classes on gardening and at Savoy, will offer cooking classes using only local food.

Anyone interested in helping out with Grow Saginaw can contact the organization through growsaginaw@gmail.com or by visiting growsaginaw.org.

Follow reporter Lindsay Knake on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com.