NICER raises money for garden

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

MONTREAL, Wis. — The local non-profit Northern Iron County Engaged Residents is continuing its efforts to develop a community garden in the city of Montreal.

Along with its other fundraising efforts, such as pursuing grants and collecting cans from residents, NICER launched a crowdfunding campaign Sunday to help raise funds to start the garden.

NICER is using seedmoney.org for its campaign, NICER secretary and garden committee chairwoman Kari Klemme said, explaining its a non-profit focused on supporting public food garden projects.

NICER also has the potential to receive additional money through the site if the fundraising campaign meets certain benchmarks.

“The perk to (using seedmoney.org) is, there’s random competitions like, ‘Whoever raises the money in the first week gets a $100 grant.’ You can earn up to $600 in additional grant funding, depending on how your group does,” Klemme said.

Klemme said NICER is hoping to raise $3,000 through its crowdfunding campaign.

“We are currently at roughly 25% of that,” she said.

Along with the campaign, NICER is offering tiered sponsorships at the garden and is exploring additional grant opportunities.

NICER is hoping to break ground on the 60-foot by 60-foot garden, containing 10 raised beds, in the open lot next to the Montreal City Hall as soon as the ground thaws in the spring.

For a link to the crowdfunding campaign, or more information on how to support the garden, visit NICER’s Facebook page or nicer715.com.