The dirt is tilled, the fence is up and irrigation in place. A free community garden at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Whitefish is ready to produce a bounty of vegetables this summer.

Twenty boxed garden beds are available at the church on Wisconsin Avenue. There is no cost for a plot — all that is asked is that a donation of fresh produce or money be made to the North Valley Food Bank.

Pastor Michael Flannery said the church’s congregation developed the idea for “The Lord’s Abundant Garden” as a simple way to give back to the community.

“The land was not being used and it’s not really big enough for an expansion,” Flannery said.

He said the church board was adamant about keeping the garden free to the public.

“If [the garden] is supposed to be a benefit to the community, we want to provide it,” he said. “We want to make a difference. We want to impact people’s lives.”

Church board member Dale Barnes designed a plan, “and we had the money to do it,” Flannery said.

A team of 30 volunteers helped get the project started and put up the fence in a single day.

The 20 garden plots are available on a first-come basis. Call 253-0083 to reserve a space.

“We hope it fills up quickly,” Flannery added.