All Commerce needs now is people anxious to grow vegetables or flowers.
The city has land set aside for community gardens; the site will be ready by May 1, and a coordinator is organizing everything.
“It’s looking good,” said Forrest Greene, the Carson Street resident who talked the city council into creating the Community Gardens of Commerce.
City manager Clarence Bryant had expressed concern that the site — behind Mike’s Quick Stop on South Elm Street — had too many rocks and bricks, but Greene, a veteran gardener, believes otherwise.
“Clarence expressed concern about rocks and bricks, but believe me, that’s no problem,” said Greene. “You work it, work some topsoil into it and pull the rocks up. I don’t think people have the right to expect good rich topsoil ready for the seeds to be dropped in.”
Greene picked out a location for his garden bed Thursday night and began working the soil, using a shovel like a hoe to break up clumps.
The area has been plowed. City workers will stake off the area for 20 15 x 20 plots, which citizens, groups or individuals can rent for $20 for the spring/summer growing season.
Access is via the parking lot in front of Badcock Furniture, where the city’s Public Works Department will build steps over the earthen berm to the site. The city will also provide mulch for the pathways between the beds and will create a water source.
“Clarence and I have been working on the other stuff. It’s hard now because of the time frame,” said Greene. “It’s been real wet, but with things drying out, I expect it to start moving real quickly.”
Greene created flyers, and the city is running newspaper ads announcing the availability of the garden plots.
The 300-square-foot plots can be subdivided. Originally, Greene said he envisioned them being cut up into quarters, but that decision will be up to the tenants.
Plots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Call 706-335-3164 (City Hall) or 706-870-2119 (Greene) to reserve a spot or email to communitygardensofcommerce@gmail.com.
