Park Pride’s 2014 Community Garden Tour

Garden PlantingJoin Park Pride to get inspired by what’s growing in Atlanta and to network with local garden enthusiasts! Whether you are an experienced or novice gardener or interested to learn more about community gardens in Atlanta, this tour will provide plenty of insight and inspiration.

The tour will start and end at Elliott Street Deli & Pub (51 Elliott St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313). You can choose to travel by bus ($25) or by bicycle ($10) to visit four inspiring community gardens in Southwest Atlanta. Members of each garden will be on site to provide an overview of their garden and to answer your questions. The tour will end at the opening reception of the Atlanta Cycling Festival, an amazing weeklong bike program. Come fall in love with our growing community, cycling and our city.

Schedule:

2:00 PM – Elliot Street Pub: Registration (51 Elliott St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313)
2:15 PM – Elliot Street Pub – Bike safety overview
2:20 PM – Ride out
2:35 PM – Arrive at the Metropolitan Lofts to visit 5th Kingdom Mushroom Farm
3:05 PM – Leave
3:15 PM – Arrive at the Good Shepard Agro Center (on Lawton Street)
3:45 PM – Leave
4:05 PM – Arrive at the Outdoor Activity Center (On Bridges)
4:45 PM – Leave
5:00 PM – Arrive Westview Garden (On S. Gordon)
5:30 PM – Leave to return to Elliot Street Pub
6:oo PM – Atlanta Cycling Festival Reception

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Garden Planting

Garden Planting & Shed Construction

On Saturday, May 10th, community members came back together to continue work at the Westview Community Garden. Additional beds were prepared, kids received instructions on how to put plants in the ground, and construction-oriented neighbors continued work on the shed by adding a gutter to collect rain water. Also notice the still-in-progress artwork on the shed wall!

To view photos of the garden work day day view the photo gallery below (click “continue reading”) or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Westview Community Garden Spring Planting

Community Garden Spring Planting Photos

After a cold and long winter the night time temperatures have finally become mild enough to plant the seedlings in the community garden. And so young and old joined together to mow, till ground beds, and to start planting the first tomatoes, okra, bush beans, and peppers in the raised beds. The work is not done, but we’re excited to finally have the first set of plants in the ground!

To view photos of the planting day view the photo gallery below (click “continue reading”) or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Continue reading

Community Garden Spring Planting Day

Community Garden PreparationWith the winter behind us and night time temperatures rising it’s time to plant our veggies in the Westview Community Garden on South Gordon Street. Over the past few months neighbors have been prepping beds and growing plants from seeds in their homes, but it is time for the little seedlings to move to their permanent homes!

Come join the Westview Community Organization on their big planting day on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

This season we expect to plant:

  • Tomatoes (8 varieties!)
  • Peppers (2 varieties)
  • Peas (bush variety)
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cucumbers
  • Okra
  • Radishes
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Leeks
  • Watermelons
  • Melons
  • Tomatillos
  • Beans
  • Onions
  • Collards
  • Kale
  • Swiss Chard
Westwood Avenue

March Membership Drive Winners

Thanks to all those who paid their Westview Community Organization dues during the March Membership Drive. The most dues were collected in the section of the neighborhood that includes South Gordon, Westwood, Rogers, Willard, Manson and Akridge – congratulations, you have won a block party! (Although everyone is welcome to attend.) Please stay tuned for details about the block party.

None the less, it is never too late to join and support the Westview Community Organization! It’s easy to pay dues online with PayPal. Annual dues are only $20 and support ongoing projects, including:

  • Westview Summer Solstice Celebration – Summer festival with a grill-off, music, artist market, and fun games for the kids.
  • Third Thursday Pizza Night – Mingle with neighbors, new and old, every third Thursday of the month while munching on pizza at Westview Pizza Café.
  • National Night Out – “America’s Night Out Against Crime”
  • South Gordon Community Garden – Join neighbors on Saturdays from 10am-2pm to tend to vegetables and fruit.
  • Landscaping & Beautification – Maintaining the landscaped traffic islands throughout the neighborhood and other beautification projects.
  • Stokes Avenue Pocket Park – Upkeep and socializing at the community pocket park.
  • Historical Research – Ongoing historical research about the Westview neighborhood.
  • Youth Programs – Sponsor of Southwest Atlanta Youth Empowerment Camp and other youth activities.
  • Newsletter – Printing and delivery to keep neighbors informed.

Westview Community Garden Chicken Coop

Chicken Coop

On Saturday, March 22, 2014, neighbors met at the Westview Community Garden on South Gordon Street to weed some garden beds, but more excitingly to put together a chicken coop acquired thanks to a donation by Random Acts. Children and adults worked together to put everything together. Next step – chickens!

Overall the community garden is looking at a promising year with three households starting seeds for the garden, the nearly completed garden shed that will double for a rain catchment purposes, and surrounding businesses eager to use spare vegetables grown in the garden. Volunteers are always welcome to help keep up the garden; community members meet up nearly every Saturday morning to work on the garden.

To view photos of the gardening day check out the photo gallery below or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Volunteers cleaning up the garden

March Community Garden Work Day Photos

On Saturday, March 1, 2014, neighbors and volunteers from outside the community came together to work on the South Gordon Community Garden.

Thanks to a Love Your Block grant Westview neighbors were able to fund a shed for the community garden. Neighborhood architects put together a fancy design and fellow neighbors handy with tools built the shed during the garden workday.

In the meanwhile the Atlanta Community Food Bank organized a group from the First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury, North Carolina, to come clean up the community garden and prepare it for the upcoming spring growing season.

To view photos of the garden work day view the photo gallery below (click “continue reading”) and to tag yourself in photos please visit our Westview Facebook page.

Continue reading

Rain Barrel Workshop

Rain Barrel Workshop

On October 5, 2013 the Garden Committee hosted a rain barrel workshop sponsored by the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. The organization provided the rain barrels and gave a presentation about the benefits of rain barrels, how to use them, and how to assemble the kit. Participating neighbors were able to take a donated rain barrel home for personal use while the remaining barrels were saved for use in the community garden.

To view photos of the community garden and the rain barrel workshop please visit the Westview Facebook page.

Barrels of Fun Festival

Date: Saturday, October 5, 2013
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: South Gordon Community Garden, 1439 South Gordon Street, Atlanta, GA 30310
Details: Join us for a day full of learning and fun activities.

  • 20-25 barrels given away
  • See what we have growing in the garden
  • Paint available to decorate your barrels (youth activity)
  • Bring your favorite veggie dish
  • Music and more

Rain Barrel Giveaway sponsored by West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.