Clarkston Community Garden

About Clarkston Community Garden

The Clarkston Community Garden, which started under the vision and leadership of Clarkstonian Sherrill Terry in 2002, contains more than 20 active garden plots on the south end of the CCC athletic field, and is usually the first greenery seen in Clarkston each spring. This bountiful organic garden was begrudgingly coaxed from an untended kudzu patch atop hard-pan Georgia red clay, in what was once the end-zone of the Clarkston High School football field. Years of mulching, constant attention and kudzu-pulling have now produced one of the most talked-about community gardens in metro Atlanta. Among the garden's early partners was The Atlanta Community Food Bank's Community Gardens Project which provided great assistance through gardening expertise, volunteer help, tools, plants and seeds. Gardeners share tools on-site, weigh and record their successes, and share garden secrets in monthly meetings at the CCC complete with refreshments. The participants include long-time Clarkston-area residents alongside refugee gardeners from many lands including Somalia, Bosnia and Vietnam. Participants in this all-volunteer organization have included green thumbs from Refugee Family Services, Georgia Mutual Assistance Consortium and the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. The program elects officers annually. Produce is often shared among gardeners and there are plans to open a produce market. The year-round Clarkston Community Garden yields over 2,700 pounds of vegetables and flowers annually. For more information on how to be involved, please contact Garden President, Shannon McNeal at [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 2010 Clarkston Community Garden Guidelines 1. Dues are $40/year, $30.00 payable to the Clarkston Community Center and $10.00 for Garden Miscellaneous Expenses 2. We are an organic garden. Environmentally harmful chemical herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers are not allowed. Seedlings from retail nurseries are acceptable. Compost from DeKalb County or the electric company, as well as composted manure, is permitted. 3. Gardeners agree to supply their own seeds and plants. Do not take tools from the premises. Contact Carol [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to use the tiller. 4. Gardeners agree to begin preparing and planting plots no later than April 15. The president will remind members around April 1st that the deadline is approaching. If a plot is not prepared or planted by April 15, the garden plot will be re-assigned. Dues are forfeited. 5. Gardeners agree to keep records of the weight of produce harvested from their plots. Scales and recording notebook are located in the tool shed. Your key will cost $10 to replace if lost. 6. If gardeners must abandon their plot for any reason during the year, notify the gardening leadership immediately so the plot can be reassigned. Dues are forfeited. 7. Obey DeKalb County watering restrictions. A water faucet and hose will be provided near the garden. 8. Gardeners will attend their plots at least once per week. 9. Gardeners will meet at least four times a year to share information and concerns. 10. Children under 12 are permitted in the garden only with a parent or adult supervisor. Amplified music is not permitted. No pets in the garden. 11. Be courteous to other members of the garden, and leave their plots alone. If you have a concern about someone’s plot, talk to the member about your concern. 12. Be considerate of your neighbors. Vining plants must be controlled to stay within your own plot. If you trellis crops, plant them where they will not shade out your neighbors’ crops. Harvest only from your assigned plot, unless you have permission to do so from other gardeners. “Adopt a Fence” for vining crops, if possible. 13. Garden plots must be kept free of rocks, debris, and weeds. Discard organic material (no meat or bones) in the compost pile. The garden will be open during daylight hours for the growing season. CCC office 404-508-1050, Shannon McNeal (404) 626-4453, or better – [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We are happy you are gardening with us. Please know that when you do so you assume the risk.