WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — Thomas Jefferson once said: “For me, there is no profession more enjoyable than the culture of the earth, and no culture that comes close to the culture of gardens.” Forsyth County has gardens of all shapes and sizes, with the help of the Winston-Salem Foundation. The gardens are tended by community volunteers who share Jefferson's passion for cultivating the land.
On his property off Fairchild Road in Winston-Salem, Matthew Scoggins proudly shows off rows of plants and flowers. His is one of more than 90 community gardens in Forsyth County. It is located outside of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension facility in Forsyth County. Some facilities are located outside of schools, churches, businesses, and community centers.
“Some are groomed by students and teachers at the school,” Scoggins said. “Some are looked after by large volunteer organizations; some are managed by large volunteer organizations. It is cared for by individual members of the community and church groups who are trying to give back in a meaningful way to help things like the problem.”
It is up to the volunteers to decide what kind of garden they will grow. Some focus on pollinator gardens, some on butterfly gardens, some on vegetable gardens. “The crops they grow are often donated to food banks and food pantries within the county,” Scoggins said, but volunteering to grow a community garden is about more than just growing food and flowers. It is said that there is a meaning.
“Gardens are important as a way to bring communities together to give back, whether it's giving food, teaching important lessons to students and the next generation, or making sure everyone is safe outside. I There's a lot of opportunity for growth, that we're growing what we want, nothing that's invasive, and I think that's really important,” he says.
A grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation will help purchase seeds for the seed bank and live plants to distribute to gardeners. We also support a tool-loan program that allows gardeners to borrow everything from tillers to shovels and hoes to help plant and maintain their gardens. Scoggins says it's a great investment. Volunteers learn an appreciation for nature and learn sustainable practices to ensure the community garden continues to exist 50 years from now. “And many of them are giving their time, money, and energy to try to grow to feed their neighbors. I mean, what's more important than that?
To participate, go online to the Forsyth County Community Gardening homepage.
There is a volunteer interest form to fill out. Someone at North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Forsyth County will connect you with gardening opportunities. You can also register as a gardening mentor.
