Jackson Progress-Argus

Photo by Diane Glidewell/// Pictured on Saturday, April 9, planting the Community Garden located on Recreation Drive, are Al Jordan (from left), Carl Finney, and Debby Godlewski. In the background are Cady and Jake Hobbs.

On the pleasant Saturday morning of April 9, plants and seeds were placed in the soil of the Butts County Community Garden, in anticipation of bountiful harvests this summer.

The Community Garden, which was started in 2009 with the support of the 2009 Leadership Butts County class, is sponsored by the Christian Emergency Relief Foundation (CERF).

The Community Garden is located on Recreation Drive, near the ball fields for the younger baseball and softball players. The produce from the garden is distributed to seniors at the Butts County Senior Center and to others who indicate a need. Other community groups, such as Boy Scouts and 4-H, have contributed to the garden.

Plants for the April 9 planting were donated by Bonnie's Plants, and seeds were donated by Adams Briscoe Seed Company of Jackson. Debby Godlewski, Carl Finney, Al Jordan, Cady Hobbs, and Jake Hobbs worked to plant Celebrity, Early Girl, and Better Boy tomatoes; yellow and zucchini squash; yellow wax beans and green beans; watermelon; bell, cayenne, and banana peppers; and okra.

They also set the wire racks for the plants. Godlewski said that plans are to add sweet potato slips, climbing cucumbers and pole beans later.

Red roses added on the edges of the garden when it was created were already blooming, and other flowering plants on the border were also thriving.

Jordan said that 400 pounds of pelleted chicken manure and 500 pounds of lime from Ridgeway Tree Farm were added to the garden this year and that Jim Herbert, director of the Butts County Parks and Recreation Department, had generously contributed tractor work as needed.

Finney said that the soil has improved each year since the beginning of the Community Garden, as it has been amended and worked.

Godlewski encouraged anyone interested in volunteering in the Community Garden to come by on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., or to call CERF and leave a message for more information at (770) 504-9013. She said that more help will be needed as the season continues and weeding, watering, and harvesting begins.

Plans are then to work in the garden after about 6 p.m., in the evenings.