Press Argus-Courier
Alma has received multiple awards from the River Valley Master Gardeners. These awards include RVMG Project of 2020, Business Friend of the RVMG Award, and two locals also received awards.
The Popeye Garden in downtown Alma received the Project of the Year Award. Once known as the Spinach Capital of the World because of the now-closed Allen s Inc. vegetable cannery, Alma still holds a special place for spinach eaters, and the famous cartoon character who ate spinach to gain super powers. The garden was built in 2007 and features a bronze statue of the cartoon character Popeye standing in a fountain in the middle of the garden. Many volunteers have worked over the years to keep the garden in the best shape possible.