LANGLEY — You don’t need your own ground to grow a garden anymore, thanks to the city and Dorothy Anderson.

Anderson, granddaughter of a pioneer Langley couple, has donated a chunk of her family’s 20 acres to be used for the city’s first community garden.

“To me it’s just a really special place,” Anderson said Thursday.

“I wanted to share it.”

“I couldn’t have done it without the city,” she added. “They have been wonderful.”

Anderson, whose property sits along aptly named Al Anderson Avenue near Fairgrounds Road, has set aside a sunny plot about 100 feet square, which will be divided into 16 gardens about 18 by 20 feet each.

The plots are available to residents of Langley who agree to regular maintenance and general upkeep of their spaces, and of the garden as a whole.

Gardeners will pay a small annual fee of $50, to help cover the costs, which will be managed by the city.

Glenn Leever, an AmeriCorps volunteer helping to coordinate the project for the city, said the fee probably will be negotiable for persons who can’t afford $50.

“We don’t want to exclude anyone,” he said.

The garden is modeled after the P-Patch programs popular in urban areas throughout the country, said Cary Peterson, who has worked closely with Anderson and the city on the garden.

Peterson is manager of Good Cheer’s volunteer-driven garden in Bayview and a member of the Langley Parks and Open Space Commission.

“I’m just thrilled it’s happening,” Peterson said. “It’s an opportunity for Langley residents to grow their own food in a community setting.”

“That’s my latest motto,” she added, “growing food while growing community.”

Peterson said that only organic methods will be used in the garden, and gardeners can plant whatever they want, so long as its legal and doesn’t interfere with their neighbors’ plots.

A portion of the garden will be reserved for tall plants that may block the sun for someone else, such as corn or pole beans, or for plants such as pumpkins that tend to take over a wide territory, she said.

“Giving people options to grow their own food is a high priority,” Peterson said. “This is really a fabulous place.”

The Langley City Council enthusiastically embraced the project, and approved a formal agreement with Anderson at this week’s council meeting. The agreement covers reimbursement to Anderson for water and other costs.

The project is part of the city’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, and the city will take care of all the administrative tasks associated with the garden.

Mayor Paul Samuelson said the garden fits perfectly with the parks and open space component of the city’s updated comprehensive plan.

“In these times, it’s a really important part of sustainability to create an opportunity for people to grow food together,” Samuelson said. “This is just a terrific gift.”

The Anderson Farm dates back to 1907, when Anders and Bertine Anderson arrived on the South End. Today’s fruit trees on the property were planted by her grandparents, Anderson said.

Her parents, Albert and Mildred Anderson, had a chicken farm on the property, and also raised cows. Her grandmother planted strawberries.

Anderson grew up on the property, but spent 18 years living in Seattle and working as a court clerk while raising her family. She returned to Langley about six years ago. Her mother died in 2005.

Peterson said Anderson’s parents would be proud of their daughter’s vision for the family property.

“To have it be used as a resource for the community fits right in with their spirit and intention,” Peterson said. “Mildred would have just loved this.”

Anderson said that if the initial community garden works out well, she may allocate additional land to expand the project. She also said she may bring back some chickens and cows.

Meanwhile, she and others have been busy laying out the garden, and fashioning beds and paths.

“I want it to go back to what it was, that’s my plan,” she said. “But I’m doing one thing at a time right now. I’ll pursue the garden, and go from there.”

Leever said three of the garden plots are already taken.

“We’ve had a lot of interest,” he said.

A dedication ceremony and sign-up session for the community garden will be at 5 p.m. Monday, May 10.

Leever said registration forms will be available at the front desk at city hall on Second Street beginning Monday.