The Bibb County Cooperative Extension will hold a blueberry bush planting and growing class for the community at The Gardens at Brookdale (3600 Brookdale Avenue) on Tuesday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m. As part of their lessons, they will be planting blueberry bushes for The Garden, which will be supplying fresh food and vegetables for residents at the Brookdale Resource Center. The ground for the bushes was partially tilled my Mayor Lester Miller.

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 at Brookdale are going to help our entire community come closer together and eat healthier by providing fresh food to residents and teaching families how to garden in their own backyards,” says Mayor Miller. “We only announced The Gardens a few weeks ago, so I’m proud of community for stepping forward so quickly and for the County Extension for already offering community classes.”

“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,” said United to End Homelessness Director Dr. Jake Hall. “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.

Last week, employees at MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union, Master Gardeners of Central Georgia, and Delta Sigma, Inc. took time out of their days to fertilize and spread mulch around the garden beds.  Then 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.