Quick Poll

Is Memorial Day an 'off day' for you or a 'work day' with your business open?

Recent Polls

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Wednesday, February 01, 2012 in Local

Garden project part of turning a New Leaf

By Winston Skinner

The Newnan Times-Herald

About 35 people turned out Monday for the first meeting about the New Leaf Community Garden project planned for a lot near the downtown Newnan business district.

The meeting at 15 Perry St. brought together organizers of the project, people from the downtown business community and a cadre of Master Gardeners.

New Leaf is part of Restore Coweta and will be the first community garden in Newnan.

There is a community garden in Senoia, and one is being planned in Moreland, as well.

New Leaf is "Newnan's first community garden in the way it's set up," said Tim Coleman of Restore Coweta.

Community gardens became a widely used concept with the Victory Garden projects during World War II. The meeting on Monday included a short film recounting the history of community gardens and focusing on a longtime project at George R. Ford Elementary School in Acworth.

Nicole Coleman, Tim Coleman's wife, is spearheading the New Leaf project. A certified health coach, she said she is particularly excited about the nutritional aspects of community gardening.

Mrs. Coleman said she had a feeling "something was missing in this community." When she read an article about an organization, Seed Leaf, in Lexington, Ky., she had an epiphany.

"I looked that over, and I instantly was excited," she said. "I felt like that's what's missing in Newnan."

About that time, she and her husband had a date night at Christy's Cafe and decided to take a walk afterward. They usually walk toward the center of downtown but instead headed south after their meal.

When they came to the corner of Salbide Avenue and Perry Street, they noticed the patch of green. "That would be a perfect place for a community garden," Mrs. Coleman said.

Mrs. Coleman said New Leaf is in the final stages of negotiations with the owner of the tract, which would provide 10,000 square feet for a garden. "It's right next to a public parking lot, which makes it perfect," she said.

Mrs. Coleman said several other sites are also being offered for gardens in various places around the city. She hopes the Salbide tract "will be the main hub since it's so centrally located."

She said other sites might have specific purposes. One might have a greenhouse for seedlings, and another might be used for growing and drying herbs.

Local restaurants have agreed to save fruit and vegetable trimmings for New Leaf. That material will be the start of an ongoing composting operation. New Leaf will get compost elsewhere the first year, but organizers hope to have their own by next summer.

The proposed layout for the Salbide land shows three sections -- two sets of raised bed boxes that will be rented by members of the community, a set of beds aimed at helping food pantries and other outlets that serve the needy and an area for storage and composting.

In many community garden programs, the rental of beds provides much funding for the overall project. "We have not finalized the pricing, but it will not exceed $85 per year," Mrs. Coleman said.

Eventually, the Salbide site should offer 40 beds for rental. "We will not start out that big," Mrs. Coleman stated.

The center section will be maintained with an eye toward providing food for the needy. There also, however, will be produce grown for local restaurants and shops. Eventually, produce from that area could be used to make teas, to can and to create "all sorts of unique products," Mrs. Coleman said.

The back area will include storage areas and compost bins. Plans also call for a butterfly and herb area and a pavilion that can be used for educational programs, picnics and shade for volunteers in the summer.

Restore Coweta's goal is "the transformation of Coweta County" in many different ways, Coleman said. The group got started a couple of years ago, delivering food "to some of the neediest areas of Newnan," he explained.

"The food allowed us to get into the community. Getting into the community allowed us to earn trust. Trust let us learn what their needs were," Coleman said. Coleman said Restore Coweta also provides mentors for Coweta Drug Court.

New Leaf is "part of a great movement to see transformation happen in our community," Tim Coleman said.

Some fundraising has already been done -- including an art show at a local gallery and a youngster who raised $100 selling friendship bracelets. "It was enough to start getting things printed and get things off the ground," Mrs. Coleman said of the girl's fundraiser.

Contributions to help with the project may be sent to New Leaf Community Garden, 90F Glenda Trace #422, Newnan, GA 30265. For information or to volunteer, people may visit www.newleafcommunitygarden.com or email nlcg30263@gmail.com .

Comment On This Story

Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.