COMMUNITY GARDENING IN APEX
By Paige Hachet Jacobs
As Anne Harrison, garden manager of Simple Gifts Community Garden, sees it, this community garden in Apex encourages “the idea that what we have in common is more important than the things that divide us.” What better way to bring people together than feeding hungry people and promoting sustainable practices? Apex is fortunate to have gardening options for those looking to trim food costs and to eat healthier and more sustainably.
Simple Gifts Community Garden is a welcoming space for anyone who wants to learn about growing fresh, organic produce. Garden leaders are on hand to show how to perform essential tasks, such as soil prepping, planting, harvesting, watering and weeding. Crops include tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, beans, collards, kale, cabbage, turnips, Swiss chard and lettuces.
Those interested in joining to enjoy the work and share the harvest pay just $20 per family for the entire year. Workers take home a percentage of the yield, and the organization supplies produce for three local food pantries. Now in its 13th season, Simple Gifts recently moved to its Tingen Road location. As the garden grows, there are plans to make it even more accessible, including building raised garden beds for those experiencing mobility issues.
The longstanding Apex Garden Club is another resource for local gardeners. Members meet to trade plants, listen to speakers and enjoy working outdoors. The club donates a percentage of its annual plant sale to local nonprofits, and maintains the planters and large garden near The Depot.
COMMUNITY GARDENING IN CARY
By Kyle Marie McMahon
Disciples’ Community Garden
2965 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
saintfrancisumc.org/garden
The garden at Saint Francis United Methodist Church began in 2014 as a mission to donate the harvest while building community relationships through gardening. The garden houses 24 4’x8′ raised beds and 6,000 square feet of shared gardening space. The growing season takes place March through November, and general members must commit to two or more communal work sessions. Church membership is not required to participate. The membership fee is $10 and comes with the option to apply for one of the 4’x8′ beds for an additional $10 per season. The garden practices organic and sustainable methods and plants vegetables for our climate zone, like tomatoes and lettuce, although there is a plot set aside for a Discovery Garden and a native plants section.
Gracious Harvest Community Garden
117 S. Academy Street, Cary
graciousharvest.org
This “giving garden” of the First United Methodist Church lives in downtown Cary and spreads its harvest among the members and families in need via Dorcas Ministries’ food pantry. There are no plots in this garden; rather, the members plan the layout as a group, deciding what is to be planted that season. The season lasts from March to November, with weekly work days along with “harvest-only” visits during the peak season in summer. Membership is open to all. Fees are $10 per season for the entire family, and while work days are not required, most attend at least one per month since participants share in the harvest on the days they participate. The garden is chemical-fertilizer and pesticide free, and the harvest is made up of vegetables and herbs that grow well in our climate zone, including beans, beets and mustard greens.
COMMUNITY GARDENING IN FUQUAY-VARINA
By Drew Becker
Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church
Covenant Community Garden
Open to all members of the public (not just church members), the Covenant Community Garden costs $10 per year for each participating household. No gardening experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome. Families work four hours per month in the garden, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. People who work in the garden receive a share of the produce. Much of the produce is also donated to the Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry and other ministries for people experiencing food insecurity.
Learn more at fvumc.org/garden.
Fuquay-Varina Garden Club
The Fuquay-Varina Garden Club, a local membership organization,
fosters interest in gardening. Up to 37 participants meet on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Fuquay-Varina Woman’s Club at 602 N. Ennis Street. Membership costs range from $30 for individuals to $45 for families. The first two meetings are complimentary for newcomers.
Curt Lunchick, president of the organization, explains, “The primary goals of the gardening club are beautification and education, as well as community service … We provide expertise or direct people to specific sources to address their gardening issues.”
Among their community projects, the club awards two scholarships to graduating seniors who will major in horticulture. They select recipients from Willow Spring High School and Fuquay-Varina High School.
For more information visit fuquayvarinagardenclub.weebly.com.
COMMUNITY GARDENING IN HOLLY SPRINGS
By Kyle Marie McMahon
Sugg Farm Community Garden
Sugg Farm, Grigsby Avenue, Holly Springs
Nestled within scenic Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, this community garden is scheduled to open in late summer. It will be a vibrant space where residents can cultivate their own fresh produce while fostering a sense of community. Plans include 30 raised-bed, rentable plots, providing a unique opportunity to grow fruits, vegetables and flowers in a shared, supportive environment. Additional beds will allow the garden to host educational programs, encouraging both seasoned gardeners and beginners to connect over a shared love for growing food.
Promoting sustainability, healthy living and community engagement, the garden’s additional benefits to the community will include reducing rain runoff, increasing biodiversity and providing organic composting materials. Once construction is completed, the town plans to incorporate a nature play area and sensory trail nearby.
Holly Springs Food Cupboard Garden
621 W. Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs
For those looking to get their hands in the dirt while making a meaningful impact, this garden offers the perfect opportunity. Unlike traditional community gardens, this space is dedicated entirely to growing fresh produce for local families in need. Every vegetable, herb and fruit cultivated here is donated, providing nutritious food to those facing food insecurity in our community.
Residents can volunteer in the garden, whether they are experienced gardeners or just looking to learn. From planting and watering to harvesting and maintaining the beds, every task contributes to ensuring fresh, healthy food reaches those who need it most. It’s a chance to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of gardening while making a tangible difference in the lives of neighbors.
COMMUNITY GARDENING IN MORRISVILLE
By Elizabeth Lincicome
If the first signs of spring have you in the mood to get your hands dirty, Morrisville offers two excellent community gardening options.
Morrisville Community Garden
219 Church Street, Morrisville
Learn more on the Morrisville Community Garden’s Facebook page.
The Morrisville Community Garden offers plots for individual gardening, as well as plots that donate their harvests to Dorcas Ministries. You do not have to be a Morrisville resident to join, but there is a fee. Members are required to do 20 hours of work per year. “I absolutely love the Morrisville Community Garden. All of the garden members are very kind and willing to provide advice,” says one member.
Morrisville Education Garden
280 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville
westernwakefarmersmarket.org/garden
Founded in 2018 under the aegis of the Morrisville Community Garden, the Morrisville Education Garden is one of the cornerstones of Morrisville’s Healthy Food Hub, which hosts the Western Wake Farmers Market and other community programs. The education garden teaches the public how to prepare and maintain garden beds, compost, and grow healthy food. It is maintained by volunteers and donates its harvest to local food banks. Members of the public are encouraged to volunteer and take classes.
The garden was the vision of Donna Willard, a Morrisville resident who is one of the founding members of the Morrisville Community Garden. Town council member Liz Johnson says that Willard “volunteers every Saturday to work in the garden, hosting education classes and organizing high school, neighborhood and environmental groups to tend the garden.”
