Tanner News

This summer, more community gardens are sprouting up across west Georgia to provide fresh, local produce as part of a healthy diet.

The season kicks off at the Knox Park community garden in Carrollton.  The garden is located at the corner of Adamson and Austin Avenues. Several plots are still available for families or groups interested in adopting a garden. Applications and scholarship information are available online.

This marks the second year of the community garden project organized by Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well initiative. In 2013, the first community garden was launched in Carrollton’s Knox Park and another was planted at Stockmar Park in Villa Rica.

Last year’s community gardens were so successful that Get Healthy, Live Well took the project to a new level this spring. Through an application process, Get Healthy, Live Well selected 11 community partners who received assistance to start their own gardens.

These community partners are a diverse group of local churches, schools and community groups from across west Georgia. The gardens will be used to grow food for local needy families, as well as educate young people about fresh produce.

In addition to the community gardens project, Get Healthy, Live Well is also organizing a Summer Challenge featuring special events to help west Georgia residents live a healthier lifestyle this summer. Local residents are invited to “Eat Healthy, Eat Local” at area restaurants and farmers markets, and there will be special programs featured before the AMP summer movie nights in Carrollton.