GrowMemphis partners with City to build 5 gardens in community centers

Five local community centers are the recipients of community gardens thanks to a budding partnership between GrowMemphis and the City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods.

“I'm excited that we've developed this partnership with the City of Memphis in this way and I would love to see a community garden in every community center,” said GrowMemphis Executive Director Carole Colter.

When the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association put out an application call for starting new gardens, the City applied for a grant with GrowMemphis acting as a fiscal and community partner.

They were awarded $10,000 to go towards purchasing community garden supplies, building planting boxes, planting GrowMemphis seed starts and continuing outreach with the five awarded community centers: Ed Rice Community Center in the 38127 ZIP code, Ruth Tate Senior Center in the 38106 ZIP code and the Charles Powell, Bickford and Riverview Community Centers in the 38109 ZIP code.

The City also brought another valuable entity on board, the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. Nine corps members who were in town for a short period of time helped to lay the foundations, sow seeds and plant bulbs in the community gardens. They will continue to complete projects within the City’s Parks and Recreation department until May 13.
GrowMemphis will continue to help cultivate the community gardens and plans on hosting workshops, summer youth camp activities and cooking demonstrations on-site throughout the summer.

“I think that it's just a natural fit,” Colter said. “How can you have a greater impact on the community than having a garden at a community center? It's going to bring seniors and youth together in that space along with neighborhood residents and the staff at the center as well. I think it's a vital demonstration of utilizing that community space for growing food, for pleasure, and for learning and also how to bring the generations together to share this knowledge on nutrition and to get outside and have some fun.”