Helping Hands

A Bountiful Harvest

Davidson Community Garden lives by the mantra “take some and share a lot!”

BY: » Renee Roberson PHOTOS COURTESY OF : » Davidson Community Garden Facebook page

Left: Connie and Eddie Beach and garden volunteers. Above: Most of the garden’s harvest is donated to the Loaves and Fishes food pantry at Ada Jenkins Center.

Longtime Davidson residents Eddie and Connie Beach have always had a passionate love for their community. Both worked for the Barium Springs Home for Children (now Children’s Hope Alliance) before Eddie, a Davidson College graduate, transitioned to an education role at the Davidson Community Presbyterian Church and eventually, the Lake Norman YMCA, before retiring. Connie followed her dream of becoming a travel agent and still works in the field.

They solidified their roots after permanently relocating to Davidson and joining Davidson United Methodist Church in 2000. Connie was part of a garden club when an outreach minister at the church brought up the idea of creating a community garden in the fall of 2009. Eddie jokes that Connie showed the most interest in the garden idea, and before they knew it, she was put in charge of what is now Davidson Community Garden. The group broke ground on a plot of land owned by Davidson College that they then rented to the church for a minimal fee in March 2010. The piece of land, which spans 120 feet by 60 feet, is located behind The Crazy Pig restaurant.

Growing and going

Local volunteers harvest the beds at the organic garden, which Eddie and Connie believe reflects the town’s strong sense of community and commitment to service. Most of the harvest is donated to the Loaves and Fishes food pantry at the Ada Jenkins Center, providing clients with much-needed fresh fruits and vegetables. Their motto is, “Tend some, take some, and share a lot!” The no-till garden also features a mix of berries, vegetables and a fig tree, as well as eye-catching perennials.

Now in their 12th season, Eddie and

Connie send out a weekly e-mail to volunteers and spring and fall workdays are Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. during the summer.

“A good number of our regular volunteers are 55 and older,” says Eddie. We think the blending of older and younger people is good for both age groups.”

A four-fold purpose

He also explains the garden has a four-fold purpose. They want to provide fresh produce to the food pantry, educate volunteers on soil, nutrition and how to make the garden better. They also delight in providing a point of beauty in the community—the garden has been the backdrop for numerous photos, impromptu picnics and anyone who walks or drives by in their cars. When a man stopped by one evening and asked if he could cut some flowers from the garden to take to his wife who was in the hospital, the volunteers readily agreed.

It has truly taken a village to keep the garden going all these years. The church provides the garden with a small operating budget each year that is supplemented by donations and discounts from Ace Hardware, Brawley Garden Center, Soil Supply, Wallace Farm, Davidson Garden Club and Hoke Lumber. Connie and Eddie work diligently to nurture not only the garden volunteer work days, but also the partnerships with places such as Davidson College, local schools, Boy and Girl Scout troops and others. At any work day, you’ll find a happy mix of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together. You can learn more at the garden’s Facebook page, “Davidson Community Garden.”

Get involved!

Join the e-mail list to learn about volunteer workdays at beachclub@mi-connection.com.

Donations can be sent to:

Davidson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 718, 233 S. Main Street, Davidson Make checks payable to DUMC and add “Community Garden” into the memo line.

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