The Brookdale Resource Center is growing opportunities, and it’s all thanks to amazing volunteers and donors who built and planted the 50 garden beds behind the Center. It all started with a conversation with Mayor Lester Miller. He wanted to find a way to feed Brookdale residents fresh food, while also giving people an opportunity to learn how to grow their own food.
“We have a lot of food insecurity around this area, and we decided Brookdale would be a great place for a garden,” said Mayor Miller. “We couldn’t do this without all the help from our volunteers. We’re grateful for the people who rally around things like this.”
The plans for the gardens moved very quickly. Mayor Miller, along with leaders from United Way of Central Georgia, the Bibb County School District, and other community partners announced The Gardens at Brookdale. Warren Associates, Inc. donated the wood for the raised gardens, students at Rutland High School made the beds, all while our Parks and Beautification Department prepared the area for the gardens. The Bibb County Cooperative Extension also hired a part-time manager for the gardens, Susan Fisher.
“This is a big garden and it’s hard for just one person to take care of. It’s not just plant it then forget it. We have to prune, water, fertilize, mulch things down because of the sun,” said Fisher. “I’m constantly needing hands out here to help with all of those chores.”
Since the beginning, we’ve had dozens of volunteers help prepare the beds, plant the first crops, and maintain them. They have helped plant produce like green beans, okra, strawberries, squash, sweet potato, and herbs that will go directly into the Brookdale Resource Center kitchen to feed residents.
“Not only are providing food for them, but we’re providing them some respite,” said Fisher. “It’s a place for them to get away from their problems. When you enter a garden, you zone in on just the plants that you have to take care of.”
If you’d like to donate or volunteer, reach out to Susan Fisher at Susan.Fisher@uga.edu.