By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – For various reasons, gardeners might not have an adequate gardening spot at home where they can grow fresh vegetables. Additionally, some gardeners may want to help those less fortunate with getting food on their tables. The Garden of Hope community garden solves both dilemmas on one green plot.
As stated, the formal mission of this program is simple: “To grow and distribute fresh produce to local food banks and help feed hungry people in our community.”
The program gives local residents a chance to help area food banks by donating a portion of their crops’ yield; it is suggested that gardeners plant one row that is earmarked for donations. The program also gives them the opportunity to connect with the environment and with fellow gardeners while growing plants for themselves.
Montgomery County Extension agent Karla Kean directs the Garden of Hope program and said it is perfect for certain groups of people.
“Maybe these are apartment dwellers, people who have a small yard or people who can’t have a garden where they live,” she explained. “They can adopt a plot in one of our sites. Hopefully it will build community, build friendships among the people who are there gardening.”
There are two Garden of Hope locations: One is at 109 Canterbury Drive off of Madison Street and the other is at 108 Adkins Street in north Clarksville.
The group will have its first organizational meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 in the small meeting room of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library at 350 Pageant Lane.
At both Garden of Hope sites all of the plots are located in the full sun and water is available. Additionally, these 10-feet-by-10-feet plots are tilled before the season starts so that they are ready to be “adopted.” Members are informed about what kinds of vegetables to grow for food donation.
“We have a list of food banks that accept fresh produce,” Kean said, adding that certain vegetables are preferred, including tomatoes, peppers (bell, sweet and hot), squash and cucumbers.
“These are the staples, because people can use those for a lot of different things,” she said, citing examples such as salsa and spaghetti sauce. “It is anything that can be easily prepared.”
In order to adopt a plot, one must pay a $25 deposit and a $10 plot fee; both are due by May 12. The deposit will be returned at the end of the season if the adoptee follows the gardening guidelines.
This year, the program has put a twist on its name in calling it “Sowing Seeds of Wisdom, Gardens of Hope Community Garden Program.” Along with that name evolution, the program is gifting “sowing kits” to each person who adopts a plot. These will consist of a bucket for harvesting that will be filled with seeds, hand tools and information on gardening.
“It’s a starter kit for gardeners,” Kean said.
Those who would like to adopt a plot or simply volunteer may contact Kean at 931-648-5725 or kkean@utk.edu. The group is also on Facebook.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.