Volunteers for the Issaquah Flatland Community Garden are preparing to get dirty.

Community members gathered Wednesday, April 22 for the third informational meeting about the garden, and laid out plans for the first work party.

The grassy space at AtWork!, 690 N.W. Juniper St., will disappear May 8 and 9 as volunteers break up, remove and compost the sod — and they’re looking for more help.

“Even if someone can only give an hour or two, it would really be appreciated,” said Chris Brandt, AtWork CEO. “Sod removal is the hardest part, and once we get this done, we’ll actually start seeing the garden.”

About 3,000 acres will be torn up to make room for 25-30 plots in the community garden, which can be rented for a small fee.

There’s space for more, but Brandt said they plan to start small and expand as interest grows in the garden. Eventually, the garden could stretch behind the building.

Renting a sod cutter for the weekend to tear out the grass will cost about $300. The group has so far raised $145 in donations.

After the sod removal, the group will host two more work parties, May 17-18 and May 23-24, to till the ground, lay out the plots, and compact the paths around them.

Planting and a move-in party begins May 30.

“We’re working really hard to put the time and effort in, and have it pay off by June,” Brandt said.

Other immediate plans include testing the soil for lead, developing a fundraising committee, and contacting Seattle Tilth — a nonprofit that educates people about organic gardening — for tips. Once the garden is up and running, Brandt said representatives from Seattle Tilth will visit Issaquah to provide free educational materials and on-site classes.

“Their expertise is teaching people how to grow organically, so it’s really exciting to have them come out here and be involved,” Brandt said.

A rules committee was also established to focus on some of the finer aspects, such as: what can and cannot be planted, water usage, distribution of the plots, and hours, among other things.

Brandt said it’s likely there will be more interested people than plots, and those who have been involved in the planning and development of the garden will take priority.

About 10 new people attended the meeting, and Brant said interest has moved beyond just Issaquah — at a recent AtWork! open house in Bellevue, several people praised the community garden, and said they were excited to see their children working in it.

Twenty-five percent of the garden is dedicated to a “humanitarian effort.” The space will be reserved for people with disabilities to work in, and much of the food produced will go to the food bank.

“There’s so much excitement, and so many creative ideas being thrown out,” Brandt said. “People are really willing to get out there and do what it takes, and really quickly. We’ve been accomplishing stuff in a 24 hour period, so you know that people are following through. It’s been just great.”

The next organizing meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. May 20, at AtWork!, 690 N.W. Juniper St.

To volunteer for one of the work parties, contact Chantal Stevens at sustainableissaquah@gmail.com.