The peas and beans are sprouting in pots.

Tomatoes, strawberries, peppers and almost “everything that you can grow in the Midwest” should be next.

Melissa Rogers and her 9-year-old daughter, Adrianna, can’t wait to get out into the new Advent Community Garden in Eagan.

“We’re super excited,” Rogers said.

They’ll join dozens of south-metro residents who will dig into community gardens this summer with the help of grants from Dakota County.

The county spread $18,000 worth of seed money over nine community garden projects this summer. All the funding comes from the county’s pot of State Health Improvement Plan money, which must be used to fight chronic disease, obesity and tobacco use.

The nine gardens vary in form and function, but all are required to either make land available for low-income gardeners or donate a percentage of their produce to food shelves.

“The purpose is to increase access to healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, especially among low-income people and populations of color,” said Shannon Bailey, who is coordinating the garden project at Dakota County Public Health.

STARTRIBUNE