The community garden at the library

If you've been past the library lately, I'm sure you've noticed the great garden growing in the corner of Bert Harsh Park, which is adjacent to the library's parking lot.
Lots of us have watched with interest the placing of boards to mark the seven long, somewhat narrow garden plots. We also watched as tall bamboo tepees were set up. We just knew they had to be for beans or some climbing
vegetable.
This past week, after only a couple of months of growing, one long bed was stuffed with the most beautiful, colorful zinnias you have ever seen. Our director had been invited to cut some of them to place in the library, and she did. Gorgeous colors!
So who's responsible for this amazing garden?
In talking with Dan Jeter, I found out that it started as a partnership with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the YMCA-USA (which I now understand is being called the "Y"), through a national grant for "Pioneering Healthier Communities." The partnership views obesity, lack of exercise, and lack of nutritious foods as an epidemic, and most always fresh produce is missing in those people needing it the most. Gardens are used to teach people not only how to grow a garden, but how to eat healthy foods. Thus the "Healthy Colquitt Coalition" was formed here in Moultrie.
With the help of David Russell, Greg Keith, Dan Jeter, and Warren McKinney, a group of seven men from Turning Point, who wanted to do a community outreach project, placed the wooden frames, hauled in mushroom compost, and planted the seeds. Occasionally as I drive past, I see the men working in the garden, weeding, watering, and providing lots of TLC.
There are not only zinnias in the garden, but green beans, butter beans, summer squash, tomatoes, and
zuchinni.
What's going to happen with all that produce? you ask. Well, Dan Jeter said that David Russell has harvested some to take to the Crossroads Mission. And Dan's sure that the Hope House Kitchen and the Food Bank will benefit from the harvest, especially when all those tomatoes start coming in real fast.
Dan said he also hopes there will be other gardens springing up all over town. We know there are plenty of plots of land just waiting to be covered in gorgeous vegetables, like the ones coming along in Bert Harsh Park.
As Dan and I talked, we laughed to think there might even be a "Tuesday Vegetable Night at the Library," a time when you can check out a book and get a few squash for a meal. Who knows? The possibilities are endless....