Growing Community

   There has been a big shift in America towards responsible food sources as food cost continually rises and land for crops become increasingly stressed. Take a trip through your local grocer and you're sure to be bombarded with words like "organic," "sustainable," and "locally sourced." Fueling this trend of local sources, are the countless community gardens and farmers' markets sprouting up around the country.  This revert back to traditional farming  is pivotal to healthy and engaged future communities.  There have been far too many studies showing adverse effects from industrial chemical pesticides used in our nation's food supply on humans. These effects run the gamut from increased cancer risk to early development trends in both males and females.
   No other community is a better example of sustainability than Hammond's Ferry, located in N. Augusta S.C, across the Savannah River from my hometown of Augusta, Ga. Here, the houses are modeled after the historic "beachy" houses of Savannah or Charleston, walking trails and tree-lined sidewalks are abundant, a community garden for the residents is live and growing, and in particular, Blue Clay Farm, the large farm you see when entering the neighborhood supplies all the produce and eggs to the neighborhood restaurant Manuel's Bread Cafe, which as gained praise from locals on both sides of the river.

A worker is seen picking zucchini in Blue Clay Farm N. Augusta, S.C. This farm supplies Mauels Bread Cafe (seen below), a French bistro located in the center of Hammond's Ferry Neighborhood located on the banks of the Savannah River, with their all of their fresh produce and eggs.

   Community gardens also benefit the community in a far more widespread way than just healthy, natural food. They encourage community engagement with neighbors and "green practices" in an age where social media has completely altered face to face conversations of old and the "convenience over sustainability" attitude of 1st world countries is having detrimental effects on the environment. Community gardens are great at being the hub of neighborhoods as seen with Hammond's Ferry. They provide a fresh and healthy food source to the community that can also be sold or traded with other communities and individuals. They also encourage people to take more concern in the environment and help educate people on the importance of composting and recycling. With that said, if you have an empty lot in your neighborhood, start a committee and build a garden. As your plants begin to take root, take a step back and watch  the entire community around you begin to grow.

 Check out Macon's own community garden blog!
/ Bealls Hill Garden Blog