By Jasmine Stark
Located at 42 Towaliga River Drive, right behind the MCES Fire Station in Jackson Ga is the High Falls Community Garden. On March 1st, I joined several High Falls community members to pull weeds and fill beds with fresh dirt in preparation for the coming growing season.
While we worked, I got the chance to talk with several of the people who showed up to help.
Kelly Dunn, who introduced herself as Kelly Dunn the second as there is another woman by the same name who lives in the area, told me that she has been involved with the High Falls Community Garden since it got started in December of 2022. Dunn said that she likes being involved with the community garden because her work planting, weeding, and caring for the plants helps more than just her. I asked what she likes to harvest from the garden and she recalled picking peppermint leaves to make tea for her husband. She said it would settle his stomach after chemo.
Three generations of McAtee’s joined us including Ruth, her daughter Christy, and grandaughter Halee.
Christy said that her mom has been very involved with the community garden, often volunteering to water the beds and she and her daughter like to come and help out when they can. Christy and Halee live on the lake and don’t have much space to plant in their yard so they’re glad that they can grow things at the community garden.
Ruth said that her favorite thing about the community garden was the diverse group of people that it brings together. “We’re all interested in coming together to do good for the community. Everyone here has a beautiful soul.” She said.
Patti Gainey, who has lived in High Falls for fifty years, has also been helping with the High Falls Community Garden since the beginning. Gainey said, “It is nice to have fresh food nearby.” She lives on the river but her yard is too shady to grow much of anything. She enjoys being able to grow eggplant, squash, and basil in the community garden.
We also had some animal helpers. Mark d’Agostino stopped by to help with his three dogs Eddiw, Marthafish, and Mocheeks.
Organizer, Bronwen, said “The garden belongs to the whole community. Anybody and everybody can come by in daylight hours to contribute or consume.”
She wanted to make sure people knew that the gate is always open and none of the beds are reserved or owned by specific people. There is no cost to use the garden and wherever there is an open spot, people can plant whatever fruits, veggies, or herbs that they want.
Last year, the High Falls Community Garden had an overabundance of food and I was told by several helpers that they hoped more people knew that they could come and harvest from the garden so none of the food grown would go to waste.
The Highfalls Community Garden will be hosting a planting day on Saturday, April 26th.
They hope to grow an assortment of crops including okra, tomatoes, sweet peppers, squash, jalapenos, and a variety of herbs.
If you’re interested in volunteering or donating to the High Falls Community Garden, search for the “June Eaves Community Garden” On Facebook and send them a message or drop by the garden some morning. “In the summer, there is usually someone around.” Says Bronwen.
