While we are in the planning and design phase for The Cullowhee Community Garden, I thought that I would draw your attention to some of my favorite Community Gardens in the region. these gardens will all serve as models for our project in Cullowhee, and have laid the groundwork for us today. If we succeed, it is because we are standing on the soil of gardens that have come before us.

The first garden to be profiled is The Sylva Community Garden, located on Storybook Ln.  in beautiful downtown Sylva, NC.  The Sylva Community Garden was started, according to volunteer Marsha Crites, in 2006 by a group of Master Gardeners on land in the community once known as "The Pumpkin Patch." Recently we learned more of the history of the land on which we garden, thanks to a recent presentation by long time resident, and former Sylva Mayor, Brenda Oliver. It seems that the land where the garden is located has been gardened for almost a hundred years in some form or another.

When The Sylva Community Garden was first established, it was one big garden run by volunteers, with all produce grown being donated to The Community Table of Sylva. While this was a great endeavor, with many volunteers and people excited to help out in the Spring, by Summertime when it gets hot and buggy there were only a few dedicated volunteers showing up to work the garden. It got a little overwhelming. So, a decision was made to break up the 1/3rd acre garden into individual plots, 15 feet by 30 feet. These plots were then offered to community members to adopt, under the agreement that they would donate produce to those in need.

This model has worked out wonderfully. Each year, the Sylva community Garden has grown bigger and more beautiful. There are now 23 individual plots, all adopted and lovingly cared for with organic and natural methods. In 2010, 800 pounds of produce was donated to The Community Table.  Last year, we donated almost 1100 pounds. That's 1100 pounds of produce grown without synthetic chemicals, and then walked across the street to be used in helping to feed our community. What a great feeling it is to garden in community, and know that your efforts are helping your neighbors in need.

Aerial Photograph of The Sylva Community Garden.          Photo by WCU Center for Shoreline Development

Can't wait to see how this beautiful garden grows in the future. For more information on how you can get involved and help The Sylva Community Garden please contact Jennifer Cooper @ jacooper@email.wcu.edu  or Adam Bigelow @ bigelownc@gmail.com  Or, you can always come join our weekly volunteer workdays, every Wednesday evening starting at 5:00 pm.

Hi everybody, we are getting really excited about the new Cullowhee Community Garden! We have started a blog to document the development of this new project, and to share our story with the community. In time, this blog will become a gardening journal for the garden, tracking frosts and thaws, blooming time of flowers, planting schedules, pest sightings, weather, and any other pertinent information.  Please share any suggestions or feedback you may have on the garden, the blog page, and individual posts. An open dialogue is essential to our success.

Work has begun on the garden site. There are two designated wetlands on the property, and they have been spared from the bush hog's blades. We also spared a few nice shrubs and small trees, including silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) and redbud (Cercis canadensis).  There are beautiful populations of smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), and mountain mint (Pycanthemum sp.).  Site appropriate native plantings are on our list for project phases, and we can't wait to get started planting and growing beautiful native plants!

But, the main focus of our garden will be to grow abundant organic vegetables and fruits. Perennial foods, such as fruit trees and shrubs, asparagus, rhubarb and other plants that, once established, will continue to provide food for our community for a long time. Annual foods will be grown according to natural and organic methods in the individual plots. Other than the prohibition on using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, gardeners will be free to use whatever cultural practices that they want in their respective garden plots.

In exchange for use of garden space, tools, equipment, natural fertilizers, and assistance from the garden manager; gardeners will donate one half of all produce grown to help serve nutritious and delicious meals at The Community Table of Sylva, NC.  This way we are able to increase the amount of fresh produce available to those in need, increase the amount of public land used for food production, and provide space and assistance to those interested in organic gardening. The garden will be open to everyone in the community, with plots being assigned on a first come, first served basis. Returning gardeners will get site preference, so that the fruits of their soil building labors and efforts will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Here are a couple of pictures to Wet Your Whistle!

Garden Site Prior To Clearing

Cleared Garden Site 

More to come, including the first organizational meeting, more site preparation, and the first round of plot assignments!  Very Exciting!