Since the town of Century embraced a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) last September, the first step toward the reality a community garden were realized early last Saturday.
Covering an area of about 500 acres between State Road 4 to Jefferson Avenue, south of Pond Street and back up along Highway 29, the CRA is funded by TIFs, or tax increment financing, and can be used to make improvements to a blighted area by putting a portion of property taxes back into improvements.
The community garden project idea came from several community meetings as one of the short-term projects that could be easily implemented and have a significant impact on the local community.
About 15 people, including several children, came to Pensacola State College early Saturday morning, with garden tools ready to put the garden plan into action.
“We had several people who came from Pensacola,” said Century PSC Director Paula Byrd. “We have consulting advisors from community gardens in Pensacola who have joined us and we have a committee that will develop working rules for the project.”
The group installed the first stage of what is called 'no till gardening,' a practice that allows more control over the soil, promotes less weeds and introduces more nutrients.
Small plots are covered with cardboard and staked at the corners, which will soon be covered with top soil and compost, a chemical-free, completely organic garden. Byrd said the next work day on the garden will be the delivery of top soil and compost, before the seeds can be planted.
The practive of no till gardening means there is no need to test the soil, as soil is more or less manufactured on top of the ground, according to what is the best benefit for the food to be grown.
Joining the planning team are Pensacola State College instructors Jennifer Ehrhardt and Judy Golding. Ehrhardt is a proponent of community gardens and weaves affordable and healthy food choices, cooking with fresh ingredients, financial literacy and service learning into her courses.
Byrd said Bondurants is constructing raised bed gardens to accommodate wheelchairs and anyone who has limited mobility. Byrd is hoping other groups and locals will join in, including schools that will allow students to have their own bed and see first hand the benefits of having a garden.
“The main purpose of the community garden is to bring the community together,” said Century Town Planner Debbie Nickles. “Several people have been instrumental in the CRA, providing new ideas and projects, and one of them was this one. It's a way of providing healthy food, for anybody in the community.
Nickles said the community garden concept was mainly an effort from the CRA community members, people who live in the area designated as the CRA. She said that Escambia County District 5 County Commissioner Steven Barry liked the idea.
“They're talking about replicating it in other areas of Century, areas that are vacant and open,” said Nickles.
Several local businesses have donated items to help with the project, according to Byrd. She said as long as the gates of the school are open, anyone is welcome to come in and work.
“We're learning as we go,” said Byrd. “It's a work in progress.”
