Some do it for fun. Some do it to keep busy. Some do it to release stress. And others do it for practicality.

When it comes to community gardens, Albert Leans are taking full advantage of the opportunity before them to grow fresh produce.

“Actually, it’s fun,” said Raymond Fuentez, who was planting some vegetables at the Spark Avenue community garden Thursday morning. “I like gardening.”

Fuentez said this is the third year for him and his girlfriend to have a garden but the first year for them to utilize a community garden. They live only about a block away from the community garden and needed more space.

“It’s a hobby,” he said. “It keeps you busy.”

He planted vegetables — including peppers, tomatoes, onions, carrots, among others — while his two dogs wandered around in the nearby grass.

He said he has taken a gardening class and is trying to implement some of the things he learned.

This summer in the city there are two community gardens: one at Spark Avenue and another near the Brookside Park.

“Especially with times being as they are now, it’s probably a little more economical for people,” said Jennifer Davis, recreation program supervisor for the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s also a stress reliever.”

The largest of the two gardens, Brookside Park community garden, has 70, 20-by-20-foot plots, Davis said. This year, the plots there filled up the very first morning they were open to the public.

Plots rent for $12, and water hookups are available throughout the garden.

The garden has walking areas in between the plots to allow easier access, along with a portapotty for use, too.

Davis said city staff rent out community garden plots the same as they do for dock spaces. Staff send out letters to people who have had a plot the previous year to let them know if they don’t renew their space by a certain date, their plot will be open to the public.

The Brookside community garden has been in existence for at least a decade, and this year, city staff decided to reopen the community garden on Spark Avenue in anticipation of the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project, which places heavy emphasis on gardening, she said.

Vitality Project leaders have stated that gardening — whether in a potted plant, in people’s yards, or in a community garden — provides regular, low-intensity range-of-motion exercise, stress reduction and fresh vegetables. It’s also a central activity in all of the world’s Blue Zones, or areas where people live the longest, healthiest lives.

City staff started off with 26 plots at the Spark Avenue garden and earlier this week plotted an additional 20, Davis said. Now there’s 46 plots. There are still a few plots available, she noted.

The plots at the Spark Avenue community garden are 10 feet by 10 feet. A water hookup was recently added to this garden as well for easy watering access.

People can rent one plot for the entire summer for $10. Renters must be finished with their sites by Oct. 15.

If people are interested in getting community gardens at other areas in town, they can fill out a community garden survey on the city’s Web site.

Davis said staff picked a handful of areas around town where they thought it would be OK to put in some plots. Those areas include Kenneth Drive, East 16th Street, Virginia Place, South Washington Avenue, Troy-Hammer Park, Giles Place, Garfield Avenue and Shoff Park. The survey asks for additional suggestions for locations.

It also asks questions about the size of plots, water hookup, and a free watering and weeding service.

The survey will be online through June 27 at www.cityofalbertlea.org. under “Upcoming Events” on the right side of the Web page.