Garinger High School Garden:

The school garden at Garinger High School was established in 2012 with the help of school faculty and community members. The garden helps to connect Garinger High School students with their food, while serving as a learning tool as well. Produce from the garden is sold at Farmers Markets and to local restaurants, in addition to being sampled in the classroom and sent home with students. To help students connect and give back to their community, produce is donated to Friendship Trays, Mecklenburg County’s meals on wheels program. The garden is managed by students, teachers, and community volunteers. For more information about the garden or to get involved, contact AndeeHendee at andreac.hendee@cms.k12.nc.us.

Wish List: Shovels, water hoses, plastic bags, recipes, a tiller, and a fridge.

Newell Farmers Market Garden:

In 1995 Nancy Newton and her husband, Frank, purchased land along Rocky River Road in the University area to locate their respective business offices, which came with a two acre plot. The plot was previously used for farming years ago, but had been lying fallow. At the time Nancy and her family had a small family garden and supplemented their fix for local produce by traveling all the way to the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market.  With the hereditary green thumb of the Newton family, they planted a small garden plot on the land to grow produce for their own table in 2005. Before long, however, the entrepreneur in Nancy emerged, and she built a small shed on the plot to sell her extra produce to the neighbors on Saturdays during the summer.  Well as is so often said, the rest is history.  Nancy called the shed the Newell Farmer’s Market and began selling local produce and specialty food items. With the success and growing demand for fresh local produce, the number of garden beds increased and has evolved to include raised beds and even a greenhouse. To further support her community, the produce that is not sold at the market gets donated to local food pantries. For more information about the Newell Farmers Market and their garden, check out their website: www.newellfarmersmarket.com.

Reedy Creek Park Garden:

Established in 2004, the Reedy Creek Park Garden is what many people think of when they think of a traditional garden. As a Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation community garden, community members of all walks of life are eligible to sign up to rent either a 10 by 15 foot plot or a 20 by 20 foot plot. Being the largest community garden in Mecklenburg County with 76 plots, the garden boasts a large variety of fresh produce and herbs, representing the many cultures of garden participants. The garden serves not only as a space to grow food, but to grow friendships as well, truly putting the community in community garden. For more information about the garden, call the Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec Horticulture Agent at  704-336-2082. 

Wish List: Wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, umbrella for picnic table

The Teaching Garden at CMC-University Hospital:

Clinical Nutrition Manager, Elaine Jones, had a dream, which many called “far-fetched. “ On a daily basis Elaine educates people on how to eat better, but she wanted to go beyond that. With a commonly cited barrier of fresh produce being expensive, Elaine wanted to be show them how to grow healthy, inexpensive food for themselves. Determined, Elaine went before her administration with her dream and received their support if she could find the funding for it. Elaine enlisted local organizations, such as Lowe’s, to help her cause. In 2012, what was once a dream came to fruition with a grand ribbon cutting ceremony. The garden serves multiple purposes with produce and herbs being featured in the cafeteria for hospital employees and visitors to enjoy, along with serving as a teaching environment where children, adults and employees can learn about healthy lifestyle habits. The garden is the perfect spot to not only teach about gardening techniques but nutrition as well, being equipped with space to conduct cooking demonstrations. For more information on this garden contact Elaine Jones at elaine.jones@carolinashealthcare.org.

Wish List: Mantis tiller, gloves, a bird bath, spades and shovels.