Community gardens are sprouting up all over North Carolina, bringing fresh vegetables, healthy exercise, a greener environment, friendships, and fun to neighborhoods across our state.

Western North Carolina residents who want to learn more about this growing movement can attend a free GROW community gardening workshop on Saturday, Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m., The Meeting Place/Senior Center in Columbus. Lunch is included. Participants will be eligible to apply for a mini-grant to support local garden projects in early 2017.

GROW workshops are led by experienced community garden leaders. Topics include season extension techniques, environmentally friendly gardening, ensuring sustainable garden success, and strengthening neighborhoods though community gardening. GROW encourages community gardeners to network and serve as local resources. The workshop concludes with a field trip to the Thermal Belt Outreach Community Garden in Columbus.

GROW workshops are open to the community. For community and school gardeners, volunteers, organizers, and local food advocates, new and experienced alike, GROW workshops are an invaluable source of practical, experience-tested ideas.

The workshop is part of the GROW (Gardeners Recreating Our World) initiative, organized by NCCGP (North Carolina Community Garden Partners), a statewide non-profit community gardening network. To organize this workshop, NCCGP has partnered with Polk County’s Growing Rural Opportunities, which seeks to increase the opportunities to support agriculture in Polk County, N.C. and Landrum, S.C.

Further funding and support comes from the Burt’s Bees Greater Good Foundation, and Resourceful Communities, a program of The Conservation Fund and Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

NCCGP is dedicated to expanding community gardening opportunities throughout our state. We promote and advocate for community gardens, connect partners, provide education, and share resources. To learn more and join us, visit our website at NCCGP.org.

Admission is free, but pre-registration is required. Space is limited.

To register and for GROW information, contact cade.underwood@nccgp.org or visit nccgp.org.

– article submitted by Cade Underwood