The city of Bowdon, in Carroll County, is getting its green thumb, as a new community garden has opened up. The garden, which recently had its Grand Opening on April 30th, will allow residents to have easy access to ripe produce from its three raised garden beds that, as Adam Stone from Go Grow Georgia and the initiator of this project states, “contain easily growable crops with a high nutritional value.”
Adam decided to start this community garden after noticing that there were many ‘Free Little Pantries’ with boxed or canned foods being utilized by the residents but felt that there was something more that could be offered, and he wanted to “find a way to provide fresh, healthy food to [his] community and fight food insecurity.”
The Bowdon Community Garden is just in its beginnings; but as the garden is meant to be a collaborative community garden, there are many plans for its bringing the community together already in the works. With a fully functional commercial kitchen available, the Senior Center is planning to hold a free pickling demonstration over the summer. There will also be seasonal educational and specified planting days at the garden. “Everyone is encouraged to come learn, work, and grow in the garden – weeding, watering, and predator elimination are always welcome,” says Adam. There is a phase two on the way; and once the funds are raised, it will include fruit bushes, fruit trees, and double the number of raised beds.
It took Adam months of research and planning before he was ready to ask for support; but once he did, “[t]he response was overwhelming. There were many sponsors that stepped up to make this garden possible,” Adam states. The director of Bowdon Parks and Recreation, Mr. Allen Fordham allowed the garden to be established at the Park and Rec center and is looking forward to “making the parks and recreation department more family-friendly” and “[to] bringing our senior citizens and youth together.” The Bowdon Kiwanis Club generously supported the project, and Adam gives special mention to “the numerous farms and businesses that have stepped up to offer their services, products and support.”
The garden is open to the public seven days a week, 365 days a year; and anyone can stop by to grab what they need from it. As a community member all you need to do is watch for the signs stating which fruits and vegetables are ready to harvest.
The address for the Bowdon Community Garden is 103 Barr Avenue, Bowdon, Georgia, 30108. Residents can find more information about the Bowdon Community Garden as well as gardening tips and links by looking for Go Grow Georgia on Facebook click here.
