History
Did you know that Forsyth County is home to the country’s first community garden?
The 1759 Community Garden, the only known, well-documented colonial community garden
and the 1761 Medical Garden, the earliest known, well-documented colonial medical
garden in the United States are both located in Historic Bethabara Park.
Today, Forsyth County is home to at least 40 Community Gardens. With its great heritage
of community gardening, Forsyth County is a natural location for a Community Garden
Resource Program.
Forsyth County Cooperative Extension has established a resource program to support
and grow the community garden movement in Forsyth county by providing resources
to new gardens and already established gardens. The public is invited to participate
in the Community Garden movement that is sweeping the country! People all over the
United States are coming together to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, healthy lifestyles,
and social capital by being involved with community gardens in neighborhoods, parks,
urban centers, and on church campuses.
As residents of Forsyth County, citizens have the opportunity to become stakeholders
in the community gardening movement. People involved in public health, neighborhood
associations, k-12 schools, colleges and universities, sustainability initiatives,
faith communities, the local food movement, civic groups, businesses, and others
may find great opportunities in working collaboratively with Extension on this effort.
"Gardens bring communities together. Not only are community gardens a good way to
get more fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets, they also allow us to be active
outdoors and build a strong community." ~ Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina: Growing
Communities.
Forsyth County Cooperative Extension will set up a database for existing gardens,
establish a community garden mentoring program, and sponsor "how to" training programs
for establishing a community garden, as well as provide some resources for gardening.
Contact Mary Jac Brennan at 703-2869 or
email her for more information.