Hate that you missed your chance to help plant blueberry bushes at the Gardens at Brookdale? Want to help provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the residents in the Brookdale Resource Center?
Well, you’re in luck!
The Bibb County Cooperative Extension has two chances to volunteer and spread mulch around the freshly-planted blueberry bushes at the Gardens (3600 Brookdale Avenue).
You can join #TeamMacconBibb on Saturday, May 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Tuesday, May 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This will also serve as a community education class where you’ll learn the reasons and benefits of mulching.
“With everyone’s hard work planting the bushes, now we have to do this to create a long-term environment for them,” says Gardens Manager Susan Fisher. “Come help us make a beautiful home for our blueberry patch.”
Registration is required for this opportunity, and you can do so by emailing bibb.extension@uga.edu or calling (478) 751-6338. If you have any questions, email Susan Fisher at susan.fisher@uga.edu.
“The Gardens are already supplying fresh food for the residents, and other people are learning how they can eat healthier in their homes,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “I’m proud of the dozens of people and companies who have joined us to help people and for the County Extension for really taking on this charge so quickly.”
“Gardening is an everyday learning experience,” said The Gardens at Brookdale Manager Susan Fisher. “We encourage volunteers to join this effort to not only learn about gardening, and to help feed our neighbors, but this will provide physical exercise, stress relief, relaxation, and a sense of belonging.”
There will be a continuous harvest all year long, and The Gardens should provide enough fresh fruit and vegetables for more than 100 people at the Center throughout the year.
“Here at Brookdale, we believe that life can begin again in this garden with the right set of circumstances, protected space, and the time and patience that life itself can begin again in those walls,” says United to End Homelessness Director Dr. Jake Hall at the First Planting ceremony. “The space we have here that connects our community is generative in ways far beyond just the nutrition.”
The Gardens are volunteer and donation based. The wood for the beds was donated by Warren Associates, supplies were donated by Minton Lawn and Garden Center, and Karsten and Denson. The Georgia Farm Bureau donated $2,500 for supplies, Evergreen Landscaping donated dirt, our Parks & Beautification Department got the grounds ready by setting up beds, filling them with dirt and spreading mulch, our Recreation Department put up fencing, and Tractor Supply has donated supplies such as tomato cages.
The beds were built by Rutland High School students, and a First Planting was held on April 11, planting the first phase that included sweet potato, squash, corn, okra, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries.
Employees at MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union, Master Gardeners of Central Georgia, and Delta Sigma, Inc. have taken time out of their days to fertilize and spread mulch around the garden beds. On Saturday, April 22, volunteers from Vineville Academy, Stratford Academy, Howard Middle, and more planted eight more beds of seeds as part of Earth Day.