Something new will be sprouting in Issaquah come June.

The unused land at the AtWork! site on Northwest Juniper Street will soon be home to organically-grown vegetables and flowers, thanks to about 15 people who met Wednesday, April 8 to pull together plans for a community garden.

The Issaquah Highlands and Klahanie areas have both had success with community gardens, but this will be Issaquah proper’s first venture into the horticulture realm.

“This sort of garden builds community like very little else does,” said T.K. Panni, an Issaquah Highlands resident and avid gardener. “It’s great for families and children to get involved, to get your hands dirty, and to build lifelong connections.”

AtWork! helped the group clear its first hurdle by donating the land, which will have room for about 40 plots at 60 square-feet each.

Once the garden is up and running, people will be able to rent the plots at a small price, based on how much is spent preparing and maintaining the garden.

Last week’s meeting focused on some of the more immediate maintenance issues, such as removing the sod and testing the soil for contaminants.

Chris Brandt, AtWork! CEO, said the group is hoping to find people who might be willing to do the work on an in-kind basis, which would cut costs on the front-end and for eventual renters.

Currently, Brandt estimates getting the garden started will cost between $4,000 and $5,000. Costs include sod removal and soil augmentation, possible deer fencing, tilling the ground, and getting a compost bin and shed.

A handful of people in the group have volunteered to find funding sources for the different costs, and Brandt said hopes are high to begin planting sometime in June.

“We have a commitment from a good group of people that really want this to come together soon, and are really excited,” she said. “And we’re happy to be able to do this and work in a partnership with the community.”

AtWork!, which provides work training for people with disabilities, is currently spearheading the project, and will be getting people actively involved in a humanitarian aspect group members have set up.

Twenty-five percent of the garden will be dedicated as “community impact” — meaning food grown in that section will donated to the food bank or those in need, and that people with disabilities will also be encouraged to work in the garden.

“It’s really a unique aspect,” Brandt said. “Most community gardens will provide for you and your family, and that’s it. It’s pretty uncommon to have a whole section dedicated to serving others.”

The coming meetings will focus on establishing details about how the garden will function, such as how plots will be distributed, and what can be grown.

In the meantime, interest in the garden has been growing steadily.

Vera Michcner, who attended the meeting, said that she has been searching for a plot, at some points even looking outside of Issaquah, and was getting discouraged until she heard about the planned garden.

“I grew up gardening, and I have a small plot at home, but it’s not enough,” she said. “I especially like the idea of sustainability … I see a project like this as a pleasure.”

Panni, who was instrumental in developing the Highlands’ community garden, said they have 33 plots, and a waiting list twice as long. The need is so great that they’re considering developing a second garden.

“It’s just an amazing thing where you can actually get together as neighbors and families and help prepare a meal from the beginning,” he said. “It’s the whole sustainable concept of getting closer to your food. That really is the underlying concept behind gardening.”

He also praised the direction Issaquah’s garden is going in, and said the most important thing is to get the community involved in the early stages of planning. And as the project goes forward, he offers the city’s future gardeners one thing to keep in mind.

“Instead of trying to learn on your own, be prepared to come in and really work in a community way,” he said. “Giving and receiving information is such an enjoyable and important experience, and one that you can really learn in.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the community garden should attend the next information meeting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at AtWork!, 690 N.W. Juniper St.