Andre Joseph Gallant

Jump to Comments

…that is if you consider a 1/8 acre garden an urban farm.

At least a dozen volunteers met Saturday to help Karen Witten uncover and plant beds down at the Handmade Garden on Pope St. between Reese and Hancock. With dark clouds and rain looming, the volunteers worked compost and transplanted lettuce starts into the old Tanyard Creek ravine. Luckily, the rain held out and guests from Hill First Baptist and a kinesiology conference stopped in to inspect the progress. Witten, community organizer Hope Iglehart and others are working on a program that will partner older Athenians, school children and community gardens to promote healthy living and civic involvement. No set particulars yet, but plans are forming rapidly.

On Sunday, gardening action in the Reese and Hancock neighborhood shifts again to North Chase St., one block north of Ebenezer West Baptist Church. All are welcome – there’s lots of work to do.

Also, check out today’s Athens Banner-Herald editorial on urban farming in Georgia. I’ve yet to read through the bill, but I’m excited about the possibilities.