In celebration of Earth Day, Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB), the City of Statesboro, and Georgia Power started and completed 12 new raised garden beds on Saturday, April 15. The City of Statesboro cleared and graded the area for the beds. Amanda Clements, Coordinator of Keeping Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful, along with Georgia Power volunteers and family members, worked this past weekend to get the raised beds built.
The garden was originally started in the summer of 2022. According to Clements, “Our raised beds were very popular and sold out in about two weeks.”
The local Georgia Power Chapter of Statesboro/Hinesville reached out to KSBB about their desire to assist with a large project, which led to KSBB submitting an application for the Legacy Grant to help with the raised beds. KSBB was awarded the grant, which covered the cost and materials to build the 2nd phase of 12 raised beds. Local members of of the Georgia Power volunteer group, “Citizens of Georgia Power” in the Statesboro and Hinesville chapters, assisted in assembling the raised beds.
Statesboro’s City Council voted in March of 2022 to designate approximately two acres of the city’s existing Renaissance Park for a community garden with plots available to rent by citizens.
According to the KSBB website: “The purpose of the garden is to provide a community setting for Statesboro residents to experience, learn, and participate in gardening while increasing access to fresh foods, promoting healthy living, and building bonds with neighbors.”
When the garden officially opened in the summer of 2022, City Councilwoman Paulette Chavers said, “Successful communities work together toward common goals while still embracing their diversity and differences. This garden is an opportunity for our citizens to embrace the true meaning of ‘community’ and work together as neighbors with a shared interest.” Chavers has been a strong advocate of the garden, which is located within the city council district she represents.
The community garden rents raised beds or ground plots, individually, for $25 annually. If interested, please contact Amanda Clements, Coordinator at KSBB for plot availability at [email protected].
