SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake City Council approved the installation of a community garden on a lot near Daisy Street.

Soap Lake resident Jennifer Peterson spoke in favor of the concept in front of a crowded council chambers at the last meeting.

"This (lot) is visible from downtown and from the highway - it's an attraction both ways," she said. "The garden is meant to be a part of the community that everyone can interact with, residents and non-residents alike."

Peterson recently founded a group called Soap Lake Urban Homesteads in an effort to educate her neighbors on the benefits of a more self-sustainable lifestyle.

She asked the council to consider the garden as a park project and provide water to the site, saying she has rounded up community donations for other costs associated with the garden, which will contain about 10 to 12 plots.

While Peterson didn't have estimates for what it would cost the city to bring water to the site, Moses Lake Park Superintendent Roland Gonzales said that city spends about $1,300 a year on water for a community garden with about 70 plots. He added the cost is offset by a modest per-season charge to gardeners of $5-$25, depending on plot size.

Councilman John Glassco said he'd support the Soap Lake garden as long as the city puts a water meter at the site, which he estimated would cost about $300.

Councilwoman Crystal Lindgren was meanwhile concerned with how the garden would be protected from vandals, to which Peterson said the plan is to keep it open for now and look at installing a fence when funds become available.

"Moses Lake went for years without fencing. It was just this last year they started having problems with gleaning," said Mayor Raymond Gravelle.

Gravelle said he's spoken with a representative of the Samis Foundation, the group that owns the land, and received tentative approval for at least a portion of the lot to be used for the garden.

The space will be more than just a collection of rented plots, according to Peterson, who said it could be used as a gathering place for classes on topics like gardening or healthy eating, and it would house a regular farmer's market.

A certain portion of the land would be dedicated to growing produce for the Soap Lake Food Bank, she added.

Peterson was joined at Wednesday's meeting by Grant County Health District Administrator Jeff Ketchel, who said he was thrilled to learn about Peterson's efforts from Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle.

"I said, 'Wow, that sounds really exciting. That's something the health district really wants to be a part of,'" he recalled. "One of the aspects of a healthy community is healthy eating, and while healthy eating is often a personal choice, it is also a community choice."

Ketchel introduced Wendy Brzezny, a nurse with the health district who will act as a "healthy community consultant" to help organize projects such as the community gardens in Soap Lake and Ephrata.

Community gardens have proven to build healthier communities, Brzezny said, pointing to studies showing they increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, encourage activity and help provide food security and access to citizens.

"About 65 percent of adults in Grant County are either overweight or obese," she said. "We're trying to initiate things to help increase activity and healthy eating. (Community gardens) are ideal places where neighbors can gather to cultivate vegetables, fruits and friends."

In order to be sustainable, Brzezny said community gardens must have the backing of local governments.

Gravelle asked how many people in the audience, of about 40, were in support of the idea. Nearly everyone raised a hand.

"That's a pretty strong show of hands there," he said.

The council passed the measure unanimously with an amendment to have the Samis Foundation give their final OK before any ground breaking is planned.