• By Walkertown Branch
• Posted Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Walkertown Library Community Garden is Growing

The Walkertown Community Garden brings together a diverse group of people from young children to retirees. For nearly twenty years, the land next to Walkertown Branch Library was a frequently mowed grass lawn. Walkertown-area residents believed that the land could be put to better use. In 2012, residents wrote a letter to library administration requesting space for a community garden.

The request was granted and the lawn was soon replaced with twelve 4’ x 8’ raised garden beds. The beds were built by the community using supplies provided by Webster Brothers Hardware in Walkertown. The project was coordinated by Wallace Williamson from Reap More Than You Sow. You can read this article about the first year of the garden. Multiple gardeners that helped build the beds continue to maintain plots. In Spring 2019, the raised beds are renovated as an Eagle Scout Project by Eagle Scout Jonathan Miller.

Nearly thirty gardeners ranging from individuals to large families have plots in the garden. Some garden to grow fresh vegetables to feed their friends and family while others generously donate their harvest to the local food pantry. Families with children enjoy gardening as a fun family activity and a valuable teaching tool.

The community garden also inspires non-gardeners to see what they could be growing in their own backyard. Looking out the large windows in the children’s area, library patrons can see an abundance of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Squash, zucchini, cucumbers, okra, pole beans, bush beans, a variety of peppers and tomatoes, onions, watermelon, cantaloupe, carrots, asparagus and more are just a sampling of what gardeners have grown.

Please call the library at 336-703-2900 or email walkertownlibrary@gmail.com to be placed on the community garden wait list. While there are no plans at this time to expand the garden, a limited number of plots open up each year. There is a $20 yearly fee per plot to cover water usage.

On the photo: Nina, Kendall and their mom Elizabeth are picking tomatoes and carrots from their garden plot by the Walkertown library. All images ©Natalia Tuchina 2019, permission required.