Phoebe Health System to expand Community Garden Program

(ALBANY, GA) – In the next few months, Americus residents can expect Brookdale Park to look like this 5th Avenue land plot, as the Phoebe Health System is starting to create a new community garden near the Sumter County campus.

Flint River Fresh Executive Director, Fredando Jackson tells us, “What we’re doing with Phoebe is looking at areas where we can find vacant properties that are owned by the city/local government, and convert those spaces into community gardens and urban farm plots where we can teach the community to grow food for themselves.”

Alongside Flint River Fresh, the health system and the City of Americus will hope to have the community garden ready in the next 90 days.

Phoebe CEO, Scott Steiner says that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how severe food insecurity is in the region.

“Getting people to do it in their own backyard, whether they’re in an apartment or house, they can grow their own fruits and vegetables for virtually nothing. Seeds and small plants cost very little compared to what comes out if you take care of it,” says Steiner.

With the Sumter community garden set to be ready in 90 days, an aspect like a community garden can go towards building a healthy community, but a stronger one.

Steiner explains that, “We’re there to not only grow it, we’re there to teach so people can replicate that. Again, we’ve got to nourish and strengthen our bodies so we can fight future viruses.”

“This is one tool they can use, but we’re also explaining to them the successes we’ve had with the community garden. It’s beyond ‘oh we’re harvesting some collard greens and cabbages, look at the community connections we’re able to buy in to,” says Jackson.

Dougherty, Randolph, and Terrell counties are listed as several of the most food insecure counties in the state.