46th Parallel Planters readying for spring

IRONWOOD — The 46th Parallel Planters are preparing for the spring planting, according to Marlene Zaleski, president of the club.

Zaleski said the club recently held a presentation on how to get an early start to the growing season with starting seedlings indoors, and maintaining gardening equipment.

The 46th Parallel Planters has around 25 regular members, said Zaleski, and people are encouraged to come “join the fun.”

The club oversees the care of the Norrie Park garden in Ironwood, which Zaleski said will be putting out signups for garden plots in the near future. The garden draws people to the park to plant vegetable gardens when they might not have space at their homes.

“There were plots left open last year,” she said.

“We are still in the planning stages,” she said. “We are trying to make it exciting so that people come down and want to learn how to take care of their tools, or how to prune, or just take care of their garden.”

She said that knowing when to plant your garden is heavily reliant on the weather, especially those late frosts.

“Some of the underground plants would be okay,” she said. “But none of your tomatoes or things would. Things like potatoes wouldn’t be harmed.”

The club also runs garden tours each year, where people tour around their community to visit gardens and get inspiration for their own.

“We do it in July. People are invited to come. The cost to take the tour is a can food donation for St. Vinnie’s,” she said.

The tours are an opportunity to socialize with other gardeners, sometimes over coffee or treats that might be brought, she said.

This year, the tours will most likely be held in Ironwood, as last season, the tour was held in Wakefield, and they try to rotate locations.

For more information about the club, visit its facebook page.