Real Ranger: Debbie Barker is sprucing up Hibbing

A love of gardening has spread to her city. Debbie Nehring Barker shares more about how she’s sprucing up Hibbing.

"I was driving to work past here every day, and I thought you know, there’s a perfect place for a garden," she said.

The spot she drives by is 31st Street and 1st Avenue, where a large stone monument to the Finnish settlers is located.

She put together a plan to make a pollinator garden surrounding the stone. And the city council approved it. Then, friends and other residents donated plants, and came together to put it in, back in July.

"I think there were 15 of us, from 2 to 75 years old. It took us about four hours, and that was it!"

Now, Barker is happy to see people stopping by and enjoying the garden. She has a message for others who have ideas like hers. "You can make a difference," she added.

And she’s not done yet. She and the other volunteers are putting in a hosta garden in the Frank Hibbing Park on October 2nd.