By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Growing the perfect garden requires a few things: a green thumb, some water and light, and a little land. Not everyone has those things. The Victory Garden of Barton County is now accepting applications for the use of 10 raised beds located at the Barton County Historical Society south of Great Bend. Barton County Conservation District Manager Veronica Coons said the boxes are eight feet by three feet, a perfect size for gardeners.
"Five of them are kind of low-to-the-ground raised beds and five of them are beds that are a comfort height that you don't have to get down on the ground to garden," she said. "Those would be ideal for disabled or senior citizens, or anyone who has issues getting down on the ground."
Gardeners can plant herbs, flowers, vegetables, or anything that is legal in the state of Kansas and not considered a noxious weed.
"It doesn't have to be exclusively vegetables because we're also encouraging people to learn and grow flowers that attract pollinators," Coons said. "That helps everybody in the garden."
There is no fee for using the boxes. Water will be supplied, as will limited tools, though gardeners are encouraged to bring their own hand tools. The boxes will be available through Nov. 1, and gardeners are expected to follow common-courtesy rules of upkeep.
Printed applications are available at the Barton County Historical Museum or the Barton County Conservation District Office at 926 Patton in Great Bend. For questions or to obtain an application to print at home, call (620) 792-3346. Applications are due by Thursday, April 27, and the boxes will be handed out in a lottery-style drawing the following day. A second-round of the process will follow if all 10 boxes are not assigned.