The Vashon food bank is moving ahead with creating a large garden at the southern edge of Vashon town, and staff members expect to begin planting there soon.

Last February, food bank officials and Norm Mathews — the owner of Vashon Thriftway — reached an agreement that allows the food bank to grow food on the 4.5-acre property Mathews’ company owns behind the IGA shopping center. Since then, food bank staff have been working with King County and making plans to establish its all-seasons garden there.

“We are trying to get everything all together and looking to plant in July for winter crops,” said Yvonne Pitrof, the executive director of the food bank.

Volunteers for a variety of tasks will be needed once planting time arrives, she added.

Those involved had hoped to move more quickly at the parcel, Pitrof said, but March was exceptionally wet this year, and the land needed to dry out before it could be prepared for the gardens. Also, work with the county took longer than anticipated.

“There has been some back and forth, but things are moving forward,” she said.

Food bank staff also worked with the King Conservation District and created a farm plan, which shows nearly one and a half acres of crops along with a covered work area, tool shed and flowers and shrubs for pollinators. Pitrof noted that through an island connection, the food bank also received a donation of a large greenhouse from Vibrant Plants in Woodinville.

“It’s all good,” she said.