Volunteers from Davidson United Methodist Church began work last Saturday, March 27, on a planned community garden on Davidson’s West Side that it’s hoped eventually will supply fresh produce to families that use the Loaves & Fishes food pantry at Ada Jenkins Center.

Saturday’s work day came as part of the church’s annual Great Day of Service. About 70 project teams helped with sorting, cleaning, landscaping, painting and other projects at local schools and nonprofit organizations.

The community garden was one of this year’s more noteworthy projects – and one that should keep volunteers busy long after the Great Day of Service.

A team of about a dozen volunteers armed with shovels and rakes began marking off sections and turning over the soil for the garden, which is on a vacant 0.8-acre lot at Catawba Avenue and Potts Street.

“We’re preparing the plot here for a community garden, so we can amend the soil,” project leader Matt Hickey said as he watch the team begin its work Saturday morning. (Mr. Hickey’s “day job” is as the owner of Grow It Greener, a local organic farm and supply business.

He showed a map of the planned site that included areas for cutting flowers around the edge, vegetables, berries, space for a future sunflower garden and for future growth. It’s being described as an all-season, organic garden and organizers hope it will produce for eight months out of the year.

Many community gardens are set up to provide separate plots for individual gardeners. But this one’s different, Mr. Hickey said.

Garden organizers say they plan to take most of the harvest to Ada Jenkins Center’s Loaves & Fishes food pantry. That will allow users of the pantry to get fresh produce alongside the usual canned and packaged foods.

The land is owned by Davidson College and is being leased to Davidson United Methodist Church.

Organizers envision the garden will be maintained by 12 crews of volunteers drawn from community organizations, schools, and churches, as well as families and individuals.

Funds will be raised by selling some herbs and produce to local restaurants, as well as through grants and individual donations, according to a garden plan provided by organizers. They’re also thinking about including art on the site, which is at a moderately busy intersection. A Davidson Girl Scout troop is already at work creating a scarecrow. Boy Scouts have offered to build benches.

To volunteer or for more information, contact steering committee member Connie Beach at 704-892-4050 or at beachclub@mi-connection.com.

ST. ALBAN’S GARDEN

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, on Caldwell Lane off Concord Road, is also organizing a community garden in that neighborhood, next to the church. The project has been in the works since last year and planting is beginning this spring.

The garden also is expected to supply at least some produce for the food pantry.