Eden community garden set for this year

Plans are already starting to take shape for this year’s community garden in Eden.

Organizer Josh Woodall invited prospective members and guest speaker Deborah Crumpton of Running Pine Herb Farm in Reidsville to sit down and discuss plans for this year’s garden, and the highlights and perhaps disappointments of last year’s community garden.

Crumpton provided an overview of Rockingham County’s network of community gardens. She said they’re really just getting underway with many planned or in the first season. She said several faith-based groups and church congregations have plots throughout the county and an apartment complex in Reidsville even has one that recently got its start.

“We’re currently working on a grant to have community gardens in lower income neighborhoods,” Crumpton said. “It would be great to have it as an afterschool program for students and get the kids interested so they can pass that interest on to their parents. It might get them excited about the project.”

Crumpton said heat was a huge negative factor in many gardens experiencing dried out plants and low yields. She said community gardens must think about irrigation and having a close supply of water.

“If they can swing it, many gardens should consider installing a watering system,” she said.

She congratulated Eden on having a well-organized model for a community garden. She said Woodall did a great job in its organization.

The group also talked deer, insect and other damage to plants. Woodall said because of the garden’s choice location, it didn’t have much in the way of deer damage.

“Between fencing and having acres of corn behind us, we didn’t have any deer damage to our plants,” he said. “We did see some insect damage from squash bugs, and stink bugs were also a problem.”

A main issue brought up by several community garden members was the problem of where to put the food once they grow it. Many suggested donating it to churches or agencies like the Salvation Army and Cooperative Christian Ministries.

“There are some issues with giving it away because some homeless people would not have access to a microwave or stove – they wouldn’t have a way to cook it,” Crumpton said. “There are also some people who just don’t know how to prepare some of these fruits and vegetables.”

Woodall will be looking at many new things to incorporate into this year’s community garden including a storage shed, a log sheet for working on the community plot and trying to get more church groups or different community groups involved in the process.

Crumpton said in the near future, she would like to see more input about community gardens from the public. She said it would be a great way to focus on health issues and give people an opportunity to receive fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally.

Woodall said he plans to have another meeting soon for people interested in having their plot from last year or any new people who want to become a part of the garden. For additional information or to make a donation, call (336) 623-2110 and select option 2.