Community Garden

Community garden takes root

All 76 available plots at Suwanee’s new organic community garden have been claimed for the 2010 season. And, construction at the White Street Park site, including Suwanee’s Harvest Farm community garden, is underway.

FOSCO Inc. of Duluth is the contractor for phase one of White Street Park, Suwanee’s fifth park (not including the Suwanee Greenway extension) to be created using open space bond funds. Current construction includes the community garden and core park infrastructure, such as parking and irrigation. Mathias Corp., also of Duluth, has been contracted to renovate the existing barn as well as for construction of public restroom facilities at Martin Farm Road Park and a pavilion at PlayTown Suwanee.

Planting is anticipated for the spring, and a community grand opening celebration is tentatively scheduled for June 19.

Organic gardening class offered

The Harvest Farm Founders Committee is offering a class on organic gardening the last week of February. The course, offered in two sessions, is open to anyone; participants need not have a plot in the new community garden.

The class will be offered at 10 a.m. at City Hall on Wednesday, February 24, and Saturday, February 27. The same information will be offered in each session. Pre-registration is not required.

A job well done!

Click on the image to enlarge a photo.
Photos by Jessica Roth and Mac Hackney

A big thanks to the more than 60 volunteers who showed up October 24 to help prepare the Harvest Farm at White Street Park site for development as Suwanee’s newest park and community garden. The hard-working volunteers dismantled the existing barn, leaving the structural components; took down the fence along White Street; filled a dumpster with debris and trash collected from the seven-acre site; built a log seating area; and removed poison ivy, privet, and other invasive plants.

“You could really feel the energy and enthusiasm of our great group of volunteers,” says Jessica Roth, Suwanee’s assistant to the city manager. “The people who came out seemed really excited both about the community garden and the overall park.”

A contractor is expected to be selected soon with construction of the park anticipated to begin before the end of the year. Another community volunteer day will be scheduled in the spring to construct the plots in the community garden.

Thanks also to the generous, community-minded businesses who sponsored the October 24 workday:
Atlanta Bread Company
Chick-fil-A
Farmer D Organics
Floristique.com
Grassroots Girls
The Honey Baked Ham Co.
Krispy Kreme
Kroger
Panache Consignment Boutique		 The Perfect Present
Print Green USA
Publix
Revival Salon
Starbucks
Subway
Suwanee Creek Bicycles
Walmart
Whole Foods Market

Construction to begin in late fall for Harvest Farm at White Street Park

Suwanee’s community garden/newest park has been master planned – and named. Design of Harvest Farm at White Street Park is unique in that the consultants, Team Agro-Engineers, were asked to create a garden within a public park. The finished product, to be built in phases, “will definitely be one of the nicest in the state, if not the country,” says community farming expert Daron Joffe (aka Farmer D).

Phase one of the park is expected to begin late this fall and will focus on the community garden and infrastructure. Sixty-seven gardening plots, including six raised plots for those with disabilities, will be created and are expected to be ready for planting in the spring. In addition to installation of irrigation, sidewalks, walkways, and parking spaces off White Street, the existing barn will be renovated. Work on the barn will include re-siding and re-roofing as well as the addition of a concrete floor, public restroom, secured storage, and an area for small community gatherings.

Master plan approved

The master plan for Suwanee's community garden was approved by City Council July 28. The plan was created by Team Agro-Engineers, working with City staff members and citizens on the Founders Committee. The master plan includes plotted garden areas, orchards, trails, and rehabilitation of the existing barn. Phase one of the community garden, which will include about 50 plots, is expected to be complete in time for planting in spring 2010. The garden is located on a 7-acre former farm property in Suwanee’s historic Old Town area.

How will Suwanee’s community garden grow?

Suwanee has contracted with Team Agro-Engineers for professional design and construction management services for the garden. Team Agro-Engineers includes: Farmer D Organics, SEI (Southeastern Engineering, Inc.), I.C.S. (Irrigation Consultant Services, and Michael P. Landry

“Team Agro-Engineers and Farmer D are passionate about organic and community gardening, sustainability, and our park site,” notes Jessica Roth, assistant to the city manager. “We feel confident that they’re the right team to help us get the community excited about this project and to help us figure out a way to take community gardening to the next level.”

Work at the garden site will include constructing garden plots of various sizes, rehabilitating the existing barn, and adding pathways and other park elements.

For more information about Suwanee’s community garden, contact Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Roth at jroth@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996.

Founders Committee

In June, City Council appointed 17 people to the Community Garden Founders Committee. The committee will work with consultants and staff to design the garden as well as develop policies for the garden’s managing board and users. Committee members include:

Bob Ames Patricia Joseph Phil Roberts
Allison Cain Boo Kirsch Gina Smith
Chantéz Daya Sara Kleinfeld Kim Thompson
Dahlys Hamilton Beth MacDonald Deborah Thornton
Carol Hassell Evette Parker Rosalie Tubre
Kelli Johnson Michelle Pauly