South Bend Garden Hosts Irish Day Planting Party March 17

Spring is coming early to South Bend, where Unity Gardens is inviting neighbors to celebrate the season with two community events that get hands in the dirt.

On Tuesday, March 17, the nonprofit garden will host its annual Irish Day volunteer planting session from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will plant peas and potatoes, keeping alive a St. Patrick's Day tradition that honors the Irish agricultural heritage of planting these hardy crops in early spring.

Fiddler's Hearth, a local Irish restaurant, will cater the morning event. Executive Director Sara Stewart shared details about both upcoming celebrations during an appearance on WNDU 16 News Now at Noon.

The garden is also planning an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18. The event will feature hands-on workshops and learning opportunities for attendees interested in sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship.

Unity Gardens has become a cornerstone of community connection in South Bend. The organization transforms urban spaces into productive gardens while teaching food security, nutrition, and environmental responsibility.

The Ripple Effect

Events like these create more than just planted vegetables. They build relationships between neighbors who might never otherwise meet, turning strangers into gardening partners over shared rows of potatoes.

The Irish Day tradition connects cultural heritage with practical skills, showing how food traditions carry stories across generations. Meanwhile, the Earth Day workshops equip attendees with knowledge they can take home to their own gardens and communities.

For volunteers who show up with dirty knees and muddy hands, the reward goes beyond fresh produce. They're planting seeds of community resilience, one potato at a time.

More information about both events is available at theunitygardens.org.