Community Garden Awaits Inaugural Season

As nature prepares for spring, the Easley Community Garden is getting ready for its first season.

The Easley Community Garden program was developed as a partnership between the city and the United Way of Pickens County after the release of a countywide study on hunger. According to the United Way website, more than 700 of the county's children don't know where their next meal will come from.

The garden, located in a formerly vacant lot on West A Avenue, will be a volunteer-run garden that will provide fresh, locally-grown produce to the Stopping Hunger In Nearby Easley soup kitchen. The SHINE kitchen serves a free, hot meal weekday nights at 5:30 p.m.

Easley Farmers Market Committee Chairwoman Lisa Garrett and United Way of Pickens County President Julie Capaldi have been working since the fall to coordinate the garden.

The garden is truly becoming a community effort. In March, a group of volunteers from Leadership Pickens County will be working to build raised garden beds before the planting season begins.

"Usually you can plant on Good Friday," Garrett said. "Our last frost date is usually April 15."

Greenbrier Farms will be donating organic seedlings that they have started growing in their greenhouse. Riddle Farm Supply will donate seed for volunteers to plant.

Lowe's of Easley has donated 2 wheelbarrows, 2 shovels, 2 garden hoses, 2 100-foot hoses, 2 hand cultivaters, and 2 trowels. Green Wave Distribution will be providing organic matter to treat the soil.

Garrett said a group of volunteer Master Gardeners will also be coming out to help with the initial planting.

The garden is quickly coming together but Garrett said they still have a wish list of items that will help them get started.

"If anybody would be so inclined to donate a fence or give us a discount on a fence they will get free advertising and let the community know that they are community-oriented," Garrett said.

Garrett said the fence will be an important addition to the garden to keep unwanted visitors away from the edibles. Also on the garden wish list: irrigation lines. Garrett hopes a willing local business will be able to contribute drip irrigation lines to help with the watering process.

Whereas many have already stepped up to help out at the city's new Community Garden, Garrett said they can always use more volunteers. Anyone interested in spending some time in the garden should visit the United Way of Pickens County Get Connected page to learn about upcoming opportunities.