Either low-income residents must sow a portion of the land or some of the harvest must be given to food shelves. The county has awarded nine mini-grants of $2,000 or less to churches, a school and even the city of Inver Grove Heights.

“People are interested in growing their own food,” said Mary Montagne, supervisor of Dakota County’s Health Promotion Unit. “That influenced us. We’re in a recesision, people are having a hard time making ends meet, and this is a way for them to get healthy food.”

Pioneer Press