2010 News Archive
Newtown Community Garden growing and thriving
City's first community garden is already being planted
5/20/2010
The Newtown Community Garden is up and growing.
Volunteers finished building the 39 raised beds on May 15, and some folks started planting immediately.
The garden, originally planned for 30 raised beds, was reconfigured so it could add another nine plots plus two future mulch bins. This is Johns Creek's first community garden.
Thirty-five raised beds measure four feet by eight feet and are 12 inches high. Another four beds designed for older gardeners are 36 inches high so they don't have to stoop so much.
The garden spots have been assigned to people who applied for them. Two beds are dedicated to Whole Foods Market and The Home Depot, which will use them for demonstrations.
A fence has been erected to keep out animals, but the gardeners have the combination to the locked gate.
The community garden was located on some empty space next to a future senior center at Newtown.
The City Council gave final approval for the garden on April 12.
The garden was built by the "Carpe Diem" team of Leadership Johns Creek. The City will provide water but will not incur any other expenses related to the garden.
The group has received commitments of material from two landscape companies, Home Depot, Newtown Park Community Foundation, Ciba Vision, North Fulton Master Gardeners, and Whole Foods Market of Johns Creek. Planters will be designed to be moveable if necessary.
The garden involves seniors, adults and families, providing exercise, education, healthy food, and help create a sense of community. Produce can only be used by the growers unless it's donated.
There are rules limiting the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Community gardens have been established in several surrounding communities, such as Alpharetta, Roswell, Norcross, and Suwanee.
For more information, please visit Leadership Johns Creek.