About a dozen community members spent their Earth Day morning planting the last of the plants at The Gardens at Brookdale. On Saturday, April 22, they finished up eight beds, planting squash, corn, beans, and cucumbers.  

“We’re so excited to be here. This is our first time gardening,” said Deshura Gates. She brought her son Landon Gates, a freshman at Stratford. They had heard about the Brookdale Resource Center, but didn’t know how they could help until the Gardens were in the works. 

Other community members brought their families as well, including our Chief of Communications Chris Floore, who brought his 7-year-old Cayden Floore, a first grader at Vineville Academy of the Arts. 

“Cayden was so excited to help plant the seeds, and he followed Susan around the entire time asking questions about everything. It was definitely a great learning experience for him,” said Floore.

The work at the Gardens at Brookdale is ongoing. The next step is to plant blueberry bushes. There was a blueberry planting class that was postponed due to rain this week, but if you’re interested in joining the rescheduled date, which has not been determined yet, bibb.extension@uga.edu or call (478) 751-6338. 

“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.”  

If you would like to volunteer or donate anything towards The Gardens, click here.