FAIRVIEW — A yen for homegrown produce has prompted creation of a cooperative gardening project in Coos County.

The Coos Community Farm Project formed in March and has about 30 members. Using donated tools, supplies, land and labor, the group is tending a garden in the Fairview area.

The garden occupies a patch of David Christian's land near Middle Creek Road. Living alone on 27 acres, he decided he could use some company. So he invited the budding project to clear space and plant seeds for a community farm plot.

"Now it's more of a large-scale garden where people can learn to grow their own food," he said.

Some of the labor comes from World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, an international program that connects farmers with eager agricultural neophytes.

"It's really amazing the amount I have learned from Dave in one week," said Kate Belski, a 26-year-old Brooklyn resident.

Christian's property isn't the only place the group wants to put down roots. North Bend resident Monica Schreiber donated an empty plot in hopes of fostering neighborhood networking.

"I think we need to have stuff in town," she said.

The co-op has five farms or gardens in the works, and several more people have offered land.

Sarah Crawford, the manager of the Coos Bay Farmers Market, said the project aims to produce food for the families who tend the gardens, as well as food for sale at the Farmers Market and for charity.

Crawford says locally grown food helps low-income families and puts more money in the pocket of the grower.

"This could really revitalize our economy if we get it going," she said.