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Gardening and farming runs in our family. Our grandfather was a farmer in rural Georgia for much of his life and our dad naturally helped out on the farm.
We both love organic gardening. Rebekah loves getting her hands in the dirt and learning new ways to have healthy, organically grown plants, and Susan loves eating the produce.
Ok, so Susan seems to have missed out on the gardening bug, but she loves wandering through a beautiful garden taking photos.
This is just what happened on a recent sunny Wednesday.
We had seen New Leaf Community Garden at market days, but were not really clear on everything they did.
Then, Phyllis from Let Them Eat Toffee mentioned that they are doing great work in the community and encouraged us to stop by and take a look.
We took her up on that advice.
New Leaf Community Garden is just off the square across from a monstrous industrial building with various shades of old glass in the window, making it look like a mosaic (you may recognize this building if you are a fan of The Walking Dead).
When we pulled up to the garden, there was a lone gardener pulling weeds from her raised bed plot in the hot sun.
Of course we couldn’t let her tackle the weeds alone, so we lent a helping hand while she told us a little about how the garden fits in the Newnan community.
Not too long ago, the lush landscape of New Leaf was a crumbling, abandoned parking lot. Founder Nicole Coleman saw potential for a greater purpose, and New Leaf Community garden was conceived.
New Leaf basically serves two functions. First, it gives gardeners who may not have land to grow on a space where they can grow organically and sustainably in company with like-minded growers. The garden also functions as a way to give back to the community.
Garden plots with raised beds constructed of cedar are rented out to gardeners from around the area. Additionally, a certain number of plots are reserved to grow produce to meet community needs.
Those who rent plots volunteer to tend the shared space. New Leaf also welcomes volunteers from the community who don’t rent space, but just want to help out.
Through this volunteer program, local food banks receive hundreds of pounds of fresh, organic produce to feed the needy.
To the rear of the garden, the gardeners work together to grow produce in the sustainability section. This food gets sold at local markets and to area restaurants. The proceeds from the sales goes right back into the garden.
New Leaf frequently hosts fun and educational events.
Be sure to like them on Facebook to learn about these upcoming programs.
We had a lot of fun just socializing and pulling weeds. The beautiful plants, butterflies and delicious smells provide a very relaxing atmosphere.
We really admire New Leaf Community Garden’s dedication to keeping toxic chemicals out of our environment and bringing nutritious food to the Newnan community.
A gardener’s job is never done and more hands lighten the burden. If you would like to volunteer, visit the New Leaf website.
You can apply for your own plot through this link.
If you don't have time to get your hands dirty but would still like to help, consider making a donation.
