Green Thumbs Wanted: New Community Garden Takes Root

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Sharon Schuler Kreps/CullmanSense
This is definitely a community effort and I am excited that the Housing Authority has been so willing to do this.”
Rachel Dawsey, North Alabama Agriplex Director

CULLMAN – The Cullman Housing Authority and the North Alabama Agriplex have been working together on a Community Garden. The new Garden is located on Logan Street, where Cleveland Ave dead-ends into the Housing Authority property. The Housing Authority residents were invited to sign-up for an 8-foot by 4-foot raised bed to tend throughout the growing season. The official kickoff for planting the garden was held on Tuesday, April 7 at 5 p.m.

“This is definitely a community effort, and I am excited that the Housing Authority has been so willing to do this,” said Rachel Dawsey, North Alabama Agriplex director. “I think it’s great that they have put in the infrastructure and providing plants and getting a good start. I think we will have a lot more gardeners that will be getting starting soon.”

The garden will be able to hold 42 raised beds, but it currently has 15, with more expected to be built.

 

Sun setting on the new Cullman Housing Authority Community Garden that we kicked off last night! 15 beds are planted and reserved!!

Posted by North Alabama Agriplex on Wednesday, April 8, 2015

“The garden is a great way for people to learn about growing healthy food,” said Ricky Kreps with the Housing Authority. “The folks from the Extension Service will be helping by offering classes on how to cook it, can it and all those good things. It’s very much an ongoing project,” he said with a smile.

“I think this is a good experience,” said Robin Lowe, who will be working in the garden with her three children. “We learned how to plant and spend time together. I’m excited, and so are my kids,” she said, hugging one of her young sons.

Community Gardens are a wonderful way to grow your own healthy food. It is also a lot of fun and a great way for families to work together.

To participate in the Community Garden on Logan Street, e-mail Rachel Peinhardt Dawsey at cullmanag@gmail.com or call the North Alabama Agriplex at 256-297-1044. The Agriplex is located at 1714 Talley Ho Street, Cullman, AL 35056. Visit the Agriplex's website at Agriplex.org and follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/NorthAlabamaAgriplex.

The Housing Authority can also be contacted for more information. It is located at 408 Cleveland Ave SW, Cullman, AL 35055 and can be reached by calling 256-734-6171