U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman has named Atlantan
Bobby Wilson as Georgia’s Community Gardening Coordinator to
provide
advice on establishing and expanding community gardens in the
state.
Wilson is the area Extension Service agent for Fulton and
DeKalb
counties, where he coordinates the urban gardening program. He
is also the president of the American Community Gardening
Association.
“Community gardens not only produce fresh fruits and
vegetables,
but can also help create more livable communities by replacing
unused lots with productive green spaces,” Glickman said
in videotaped remarks prepared for the ACGA conference in
Atlanta.
“These gardening projects can be vital for
communities,”
he said. “So I have selected coordinators in each state to
help faith-based organizations, nonprofit groups, state and
local
governments and individuals create or expand gardens in their
neighborhoods.”
Innovation and
Success
“In light of the innovation and success Wilson has shown
with the Atlanta urban gardening program, his new appointment
certainly comes as no surprise,” said Susan Harrell,
district
extension head in north Georgia .
“The urban gardening program is nationally known for
creating
the circle-gardening concept that reduces waste in the landfill,
saves water and creates an environment for inner-city
gardening,”
Harrell said.
“Wilson’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills add an
extra dimension that strengthens the urban gardening program he
has in Atlanta,” she said.
The newly named coordinators will offer information and
technical
help to nonprofit groups, native American tribes, school
districts,
private businesses, individuals and state, local, and federal
governments as they start or expand local community gardens.
The coordinators will offer advice on site location and
planning,
what and when to plant, soil surveys, soil conservation,
volunteer
recruitment and links with government agencies. USDA has provided
technical help, national publicity and limited seed money to
local
gardening projects. The agency also created a national gardening
Web site, www.gardening.usda.gov.
All of the new coordinators are working with nonprofit groups
and other partners to develop specific plans to help community
gardening efforts in their states. These plans may include
partnerships,
technical assistance workshops and public events to encourage
community gardening.
Bringing People
Together
“Community gardens can bring people together, enhance
communities and help fight hunger,” Glickman said. “And
by giving school children a chance to plant and care for
community
gardens, we offer them a healthy and productive way to have fun
and improve their neighborhoods.”
The new community gardening coordinators are already USDA
employees,
so no added funding is required. A state-by-state list of the
coordinators is available at www.reeusda.gov/SCGC.
