The event will be FREE this year, but the Coalition is requesting donations of garden supplies, which will be collected at both the start and end of the tour and will be given to the gardens highlighted on the tour. Suggested donations include; gardening gloves, shovels, seeds, or whatever can be easily dropped off during the tour.

Participants and tour goers will learn basic gardening skills such as soil preparation and composting, how to start a community garden, and be enlighten by success stories from gardeners. There will also be a food truck gathering featuring local food at the last stop on the tour at the Winterfield Garden where tour goers can purchase food or bring a lunch to enjoy at the garden during the ending presentation.

The Mecklenburg County Fruit & Vegetable Coalition’s mission is to educate the public on community gardening efforts, share information with other gardens and network with interested community members. The Mecklenburg County Health Department is the coordinating agency for the coalition and supports the community mission of increasing healthy food options for residents.
 
The 2012 Tour Schedule:
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.  Atherton Mill Farmers’ Market, 2104 South Blvd.
Atherton Mill Farmers’ Market will open at 8:00 a.m. so that you can shop before the tour begins. Collect a map of the tour and drop off donations. Coffee will be for purchase from Monk's at the market.
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Wilmore Gardens, 1808 S. Mint St.
 
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Country Club Heights, Dunlavin Way off of Eastway Dr.
 
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Central United Methodist, 6030 Albemarle Rd.
 
11:30 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. Winterfield Gardens, 3100 Winterfield Pl.
Keynote speaker: Henry Owen, Friendship Gardens
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Garden Gathering

After the tour, Mecklenburg County Fruit & Vegetable Coalition will host a Garden Gathering where you can purchase food from The Tin Kitchen and The Herban Legend food trucks or bring your own lunch, drop off donations, watch garden and cooking demonstrations, and enjoy live music at the Winterfield Garden! Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

2012 Tour Partners include: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Bike Charlotte, Charlotte Green, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Earth Fare, Friendship Gardens, Mecklenburg County Cooperative Extension, Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, Mecklenburg County Storm Water, Mecklenburg Fruit & Vegetable Coalition, The Atherton Market at Atherton Mill, The Herban Legend, Johnson & Wales University and The Tin Kitchen.

For more information, visit the Mecklenburg County Fruit & Vegetable Coalition website at http://mcfvc.charmeck.org
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Media Contact: Andy Fair at 704-432-0021 or Andrew.Fair@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov