Jackson Progress-Argus

Photo by Rebecca Long

By Diane Glidewell

dglidewell@myjpa.com

The Butts County Community Garden, which first took root last spring, is continuing to grow. A group of 4-H'ers led by Butts County Extension Agent Jennie Brown and assistant, Bonnie McLeroy, spent the Friday morning before the Fourth of July holiday weeding and helping with other garden chores.

Benches built by Boy Scout Troop 166 last fall are in place for visitors to sit on for a moment to take a break, stack produce, or lean tools against.

The Community Garden is located on Recreation Drive at the Butts County Parks and Recreation Department, on the right-hand side before one reaches the Samuel Johnson Soccer Complex from Alabama Boulevard. A group of citizens began the garden in the spring of 2009, and Leadership Butts County 2010 adopted the Community Garden as its project. A fence was built to keep out the deer, a shed was acquired to shelter tools, a sign was erected to identify the garden, and a large amount of top soil was worked into the garden as rocks and debris were cleaned out and fertilizer was added.

The Community Garden got off to a bit of a slow start in 2010, as a big planting day, including a cookout, on April 24, had to be canceled due to heavy rains. Rescheduling was complicated by continued rains and competing springtime activities.

Eventually, planting was accomplished, but then Tim Thacker, who had agreed to coordinate the 2010 Community Garden, had to relinquish the responsibilities due to health problems. Debby Godlewski agreed to take over supervision of the garden. She has worked to set up a watering schedule and to log in the produce harvested, among other tasks associated with the garden.

According to the garden's log, the first produce (tomatoes) was gathered on June 14 and by July 2, approximately 90 pounds of produce had been harvested. The bounty has been distributed through the Butts County Senior Center and the Christian Emergency Relief Foundation (CERF) House, according to Al Jordan, of CERF House. Godlewski has also frozen some vegetables for later distribution through CERF House.

Seniors enjoy sliced tomatoes and peppers with lunch, especially on "Veggie Day," and they also enjoy taking home other fresh produce from the nearby garden. "I think the Community Garden is a wonderful thing," said Senior Center Site Manager Jane Welchel.

Jordan and his wife, Stuart, were working alongside the 4-H'ers on Friday, teaching them about the garden and holding the weeds at bay. Jordan noted that Master Gardener Glenda Grant and Millard Daniel, of the County Extension Service, have been helpful in providing advice and recommendations for the Community Garden.

Godlewski noted that the Community Garden had benefited from plants donated by Bonnie Plants of Union Springs, Ala., the supplier of plants for local Adams Briscoe Seed Company.

After a morning of hands-on experience in the Community Garden, the 4-H group was headed to Ingles Grocery for comparison shopping. Brown explained that they were going to compare both price and nutrition information on fresh and frozen vegetables they had seen in the garden. After lunch, which was to include tomato sandwiches as a choice, the youths planned to plant squash in decorated containers and then create mosaic art with various varieties of beans, according to Brown.

Anyone who would enjoy some time outdoors in the sunshine, getting their hands dirty and watching plants grow and produce, is welcome to volunteer at the Community Garden. To do so, call Godlewski at (678) 938-8898.