Everyday Heroes: Brookhaven residents grow into new community garden

Stringer is new to vegetable gardening, having only grown herbs in pots on her deck, and the rest of the members have a wide range of experience. A common interest in gardening, curiosity and community is what drives this garden.

Credit: Rough Draft Atlanta

Credit: Rough Draft Atlanta

The Garden at Brookhaven Park has come a long way in a few short months. The land, which was used as a garden years ago, was overgrown when Siegler and Blackburn Community Garden co-manager Luke Kelley started the process of developing the space.

“We came over here thinking, ‘OK, we can get some volunteers with shovels and axes,’ but it was a forest. It was an absolute jungle. There were trees in here,” Kelley said. “We’re not talking about something you can just take down with a hatchet.”

“There was even a swing set in there,” Siegler added.

The two got to work. They contacted Thad Ellet, the head of Brookhaven Parks Conservancy, and Ida Beth Barner, co-manager of Blackburn Community Garden, to flesh out a plan.

Since the summer season, three Girl Scout troops have become involved, and the Garden at Brookhaven Park has received a $500 grant from Park Pride, an Atlanta-based nonprofit.

Turney-Navaei, who grew up gardening with her family and fellow church members in Seattle, manages the garden’s membership by recruiting members, posting articles and tips for gardening in the Facebook group, and organizing work days.

“The goal is to make friends, grow some stuff and make pantry donations,” said Turney-Navaei.

Blackburn Park volunteers manage seven garden beds that produce vegetables and herbs year-round for the Suthers Center food pantry at St. Martin’s in the Field Episcopal Church. If the extra beds at Brookhaven Park don’t get snatched up by a gardener soon, Siegler may plant potatoes and carrots for the food pantry.

“They’re such a utility food, and they’re hearty for donating,” Siegler said.

Turney-Navaei grew pounds of sweet potatoes that she is now curing in her home office. Eventually, the Garden at Brookhaven Park will produce enough food to regularly donate produce to a local food pantry.

Until then, the Garden at Brookhaven Park members will level more ground, build more beds and add more gardeners to their oasis in the city.

“We’ve got a really good group,” Siegler said, anticipating many gardeners will renew their plots in January.

HOW TO HELP

More information on how to get involved or donate to The Garden at Brookhaven Park, visit their Facebook page.

To donate to the Suthers Center food pantry at St Martin’s in the Field Episcopal Church, go to sutherscenter.org/give-help.