From Hyde County

The winter months are settling in but spring is just around the corner, and it’s never too early to start planning a spring garden! Hyde County is interested in hearing from residents and their community groups on the need and importance of community gardens in their respective towns. A community garden is any piece of land gardened by a group of people. Community gardens are as varied as the neighborhoods in which they are located. Each is developed to meet the needs of the people who come together to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs and other plants on common ground. Community gardens bring people together. They provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the gardeners, or the produce may be donated to the hungry. Some focus on education or on nutrition and exercise, while others may sell what they grow for income. Some simply provide a place to share the love of being out-of-doors and gardening.

The Quarter Gardens is a community garden pilot program sponsored by Hyde County to utilize grant funding, volunteers and county resources to provide fresh produce in Swan Quarter and other Hyde County townships. The details of the program are still being worked out, but the program has a highly motivated and energetic group of community leaders who are laying the groundwork for this project.

Now we need to hear from residents. Are you a potential volunteer for a Community Garden Committee who will guide and assist in this program or are you currently working on a community garden project? Do you have a green thumb and gardening experience and would like to volunteer to establish and maintain the gardens? Are you interested in learning how to garden or would you and/or your organization or church like to utilize the community garden or sponsor a box? Would you be willing and able to donate garden and box building supplies, dirt, seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, or time? Whatever your interest level, let Quarter Gardens know now in the planning stages to be included in this opportunity to grow Hyde County communities. Spring will be here before we know it.

Contact Will Doerfer, Hyde County manager’s office, at 252-926-4179 or wdoerfer@hydecountync.gov to get more information and to get involved in this initiative.