Last winter, Water Resources offered to make land and water available for a Community Garden. That simple idea produced a bountiful harvest.

The land was on the grounds of the Lanier Filter Plant near Buford. Using four days of inmate labor and $4,460, they installed water pipes, gravel for parking, and tilled up enough soil for 40 garden plots. They even obtained a donated port-a-potty from Grogan's Sanitary Services.

Director of Water Production Neal Spivey said, "Many people like the idea of growing their own food but don't have the knowledge, the space, or enough sun exposure to be successful. Our land is ideal, except for the rocks!" Community gardeners provide their own seeds, materials, and labor. A padlock keeps out poachers but gardeners report that deer and field mice are getting their share.

Volunteers from the Extension Service's Master Gardener program helped local residents plan, plant, maintain, and harvest their gardens of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Everyone who signed up for a free 20 foot by 20 foot plot agreed to plant it by April 30 and to maintain it all summer. Some have replanted their gardens with fall crops like broccoli and cauliflower.

All community gardeners also agreed to participate in Plant a Row for the Hungry – aprogram that offers fresh produce to local food banks. Some church groups donate everything they grow to the needy. One Girl Scout troop grew 300 pounds of fruits and vegetables on two plots. Other rules include participating in a fall garden clean-up, gardens are for non-commercial use only, no pets or alcohol onsite, legal crops only, and you can pick only your own crops. Plots were available on a first-come, first-served basis until all 40 were taken.

Tall crops are only allowed where they won't shade other plots. Fertilizers, weed killers, and insecticides are permitted if they don't affect neighboring gardens. Special plots were set aside for organic gardening. Spivey hopes to make more plots available next year, including a children's garden, as part of Gwinnett County's Environmental Sustainability Plan.

"We believe that community gardens have a positive environmental, economic, and social impact on the surrounding area," says Spivey. "Gardening raises awareness of issues like water quality, erosion, and stormwater runoff that are a big part of our education message."