Davidson College students Katie Cheatham (left) and Liz Engle helped out at the Davidson Community Garden this spring.
On the PlanCharlotte.org page at UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute this week, writer Amber Veverka takes a look at two Charlotte groups that are helping to get fresh, local food to those who don’t live near or shop at a farmer’s market. Sow Much Good and Friendship Gardens are both in the midst of growing, she writes.
Here in north Mecklenburg, we’d also take note of the Davidson Community Garden off Potts Street. The volunteer-run garden was organized a couple of years ago by Davidson United Methodist Church, and donates a portion of its produce to the Loaves & Fishes food pantry at nearby Ada Jenkins Center.
Ms. Veverka reports that the two organizations in Charlotte are expanding beyond gardening, and into farming. Sow Much Good is farming on 4 acres in Huntersville this summer.
The Davidson Community Garden is at Pott Street and Catawba Avenue in Davidson, behind the Wells Fargo drive-in bank. We’ve been following developments there regularly over the past couple of years. In May, Around Davidson columnist Brenda Barger reported on early season efforts, and on some Davidson College students who have been helping out every Saturday.
The garden’s motto, on signs around the site, is “Tend some, take some, share a lot.” Organizer Connie Beach says volunteers range in age from five to 75 years old, and she can always use more. Just show up on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m., and introduce yourself to Connie or her husband, Eddie.
“We will put volunteers right to work. If they have their own garden gloves, it is good to bring them, but we have plenty of tools, so no need to bring anything else,” Ms. Beach says. Supervised children are welcome, as long as they are there to work. Some families come to work together on Saturdays.
“It’s also a great way to earn community service hours for middle and high-schoolers,” she said.
RELATED LINKS
June 19, 2012, PlanCharlotte.org, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, “Growing the market for local foods”
Facebook page for Davidson Community Garden
May 15, 2012, DavidsonNews.net, Around Davidson, “Parties, gifts, community gardening and art”
July 1, 2010, DavidsonNews.net, “Community garden begins to bear fruit.”
March 31, 2010, DavidsonNews.net, “New community garden to supply Loaves & Fishes.”
Ada Jenkins Center website
David, thanks for the piece on the Davidson Community Garden. It really is one of the gems about living in this town. More volunteers are always welcome and needed.
This Saturday (6/23) gardeners will actually be planting some tranplants received from the North Meck County Jail.
So far this year the garden has donated well over 200lbs of produce. We’ll soon have potatoes, mellons, squash, cukes, and ocra ready for harvest, so the total should start going up quickly.
Here are a couple of posts about it with a few more pictures.
Davidson Community Garden Off to a Great Start
Davidson Community Garden – Growing Food for a Good Cause
Davidson Trifecta: DCG, Market “Flash Mob”, and Band of Oz