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Published Tuesday, February 07, 2012 in Local

Community Garden: Newnan's New Leaf Project seeks volunteers

By Winston Skinner

The Newnan Times-Herald

"Everybody knows how nutritious veggies are," Nicole Coleman said.

Coleman -- the prime mover behind New Leaf Community Garden, the new effort in Newnan to start a series of gardens -- said she wants to see people have access to good, nutritious, fresh food. She reflected on the need for healthful food -- and how hard it is for some people to get it.

"We can find fast food places on every corner. It's more of a challenge to find the farms and the small farmers," she said.

Her husband, Tim, who is involved with Restore Coweta, the group sponsoring the New Leaf project, also talked about the value of having produce available in Coweta County's communities. "If you don't have anything to eat today, a box of Rice-A-Roni is good. A lifetime of Rice-A-Roni, however, is not good," he said.

New Leaf was kicked off earlier with a meeting at 15 Perry St. There also is a need for volunteers in a wide range of areas from fundraising and construction of the raise beds to simply spreading the word about New Leaf.

"There are so many ways to get involved," Nicole Coleman said. Among the ways people can help New Leaf are:

• Building the garden plot at the main garden at Salbide Avenue and Perry Street. This would involve putting up fencing, building raised bed gardens, building storage areas and getting a compost pile started.

• Being on the lookout for things that might be donated to help move the garden project forward.

• Helping to maintain the website, email list and other communication resources.

• Brainstorming about ways to involve more of the community in New Leaf -- particularly people who may see themselves as on the margins of society.

• Helping to develop a pickup system to get vegetable-fruit refuse from restaurants and stores that can be turned into compost.

• Becoming the official photographer for the project -- documenting the setup of the garden and then each season.

• Helping coordinate classes to teach about sustainable living, cooking with fresh food from the garden and other topics.

• Helping coordinate an afterschool project were older children can learn how to garden.

• Raising funds.

• Serving on the advisory board.

• Being a volunteer.

Several of the items on the New Leaf volunteer wish list have to do with spreading awareness about the community garden. People are being urged to post information about New Leaf on their Facebook pages, to sign up for the email list and to get others -- church, civic group, social club, child's school -- involved with New Leaf.

"Just keep spreading the word for us," Nicole Coleman urged.

There are certain items that will be needed for the project. The first phase will be to install water lines at the Salbide site. Soon there will be a need for cedar lumber for raised beds and compost bins. Cedar "lasts longer" than most other woods, Mrs. Coleman said.

Fencing, gates, hoses and mulch and hay will also be needs early in the project.

Starting in the summer. Mrs. Coleman said she hopes there will be informational panels that explain the various stations in the garden. "Many people don't know which vegetables are in season and when," she explained.

"As we get closer and closer, we will have scheduled workdays," Tim Coleman said.

To volunteer, donate materials or get on the email list, visit www.newleafcommunitygarden.com or email nlcg30263@gmail.com. Financial contributions to help with the project may be sent to New Leaf Community Garden, 90F Glenda Trace #422, Newnan, GA 30265.

Tim Coleman said he sees New Leaf as part of a bigger movement -- "many, many parts of our community that are coming together which makes Newnan one of the best places to live."

"Gardening is not just about growing things," his wife observed. "I see this beautiful place where we can come together as a community and get to know each other."

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