Plots available as Lakeshore Community Garden has opening day

Published 9:25 pm Sunday, May 6, 2018

Helen Boyd admits she likes flowers, but not enough to plant them.

“I want something I can eat,” she said. “This garden is perfect for me.”

Boyd, of Dalton, is referring to the Lakeshore Community Garden at Lakeshore Park where she is growing green peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, green beans and squash.

The garden was started in 2010 by the Master Gardener program of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension for residents interested in gardening, said Michele Corbin, vice president of the organization that oversees the gardens.

Saturday was opening day for new and existing members. The garden is a collaboration of the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department and University of Georgia Extension office in Whitfield County.

This is Boyd’s first year renting a plot at Lakeshore.

“I used to garden a lot in Maryland,” she said of her home state. Boyd moved to Dalton four years ago.

The plots are 5-by-16 feet and cost $20 a year. The garden is off South Thornton Avenue (U.S. Highway 41 South) at Lakeshore Park near the dog park on the south side of the park.

Caron Peavy, president of Lakeshore Community Garden, said a majority of the 76 plots have been rented for the year.

“We have about 15 plots left,” she said, adding that the unrented plots are close together and are ideal for churches, groups or organizations.

Peavy said gardeners are planting everything from flowers to strawberries to herbs.

“This year we have asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and cilantro,” she said of the various vegetables being grown. “Then of course, there are collard greens and cabbage.”

Corbin said she wasn’t being “very adventurous” this year.

“I only planted tomatoes, basil and hot peppers,” she said.

“This is an interesting plot,” Corbin said, pointing to one near the back of the garden. She said it’s filled with spring and fall vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower and radishes, which don’t grow well during the summer.

“These (radishes) are ready to be harvested and eaten,” she said. “I would eat these today if I could.”

A new addition will greet gardeners this season: benches.

Peavy said three benches were built by Rowdy Zeisig, a local Boy Scout, for an Eagle Scout project.

Linda Burchell of Dalton said the benches are a big help.

“The benches make it easy for people with bad back or knees,” she said. “You can use it to lean over and tend to your garden.”

This is Burchell’s third year at Lakeshore and she is tending to three plots.

“I like the idea of gardening, but I’ve never been that good at it,” she said. “This is like a whole new life to me. I love it.” This year she planted corn, pole beans, buttercrunch lettuce and beets.

“My friends and I love beets, we plan to cook and pickle them,” she said.

Burchell said she loves the closeness among the gardeners.

“We share food and help each other out,” she said. “Being out here you get sunshine, moderate exercise and fresh vegetables. I look forward to it each year.”

Interested gardeners can visit the Facebook page (Lakeshore Community Garden) for an application or email lcgarden1212@gmail.com.