WILMINGTON — Wilmington College’s Grow Food, Grow Hope initiative is seeking families interested in learning gardening skills and growing their own produce as applicants for its annual Community Garden program.

Located on the Wilmington College campus, the Grow Food Grow Hope Community Garden is a multi-plot vegetable and herb garden maintained by families and individuals from the community.

The 4-foot by 12-foot plots are provided free of charge to participants and all of the resources, tools and educational materials are covered by Grow Food, Grow Hope with assistance of the program’s financial supporters.

Participants attend weekly garden tutorial sessions, care for their garden and are welcome to use all of the produce grown in their garden bed. The gardeners meet every Tuesday throughout the growing season, which typically runs from May through late July.

Education is an important element to the Community Garden program, as the staff’s goal is to make new gardeners self-sustainable in the future. New or novice gardeners are paired with more experienced garden mentors who help in planting, weeding and harvesting in the plots. Cooking and preservation demonstrations, children’s activities, and other educational opportunities are also included.

More information is available by contacting Grow Food Grow Hope at (937) 481-2261 or via email [email protected] or at www.growfoodgrowhope.com to receive an application, sponsor or recommend a family, or for those interested in being a volunteer or mentor.