CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 07/17/14

Blog is a new UGA resource for Georgia community gardeners

By Becky Griffin

A new online blog has been created to help connect Georgia community gardeners with resources from University of Georgia Extension and The Center for Urban Agriculture.

The new UGA Community Garden Blog is located at blog.extension.uga.edu/communitygardening. UGA experts, local gardening celebrities and experienced gardeners, maintain blog posts that are published weekly. Subscribing is free.

Science based information

Recent post titles include Composting in the Garden, Growing Popcorn and How to Correctly Plant a Tomato. The blog’s subject matter varies and includes a list of upcoming classes.

The blog weaves together the latest science with learned experience from veteran gardeners to address the issues community gardeners face.

Both beginning and advanced gardeners will benefit from the blog’s listing of upcoming garden workshop and events and updates on current pest and disease control issues, control options, sustainable gardening practices and plant selection.

How to plant and what to plant

Tips on crop rotation, succession planting and crop variety selection will be imperative to maximizing production in the small spaces usually set aside for community gardens.

In addition to the nuts and bolts of keeping plants alive, blog authors will also help gardeners establish guidelines concerning garden etiquette and management — including ways to address issues like setting garden dues, deciding how water will be provided and used, deciding what types of pesticides can be used and what happens if someone does not care for their plot or doesn’t harvest their food. Questions like these should be addressed at the beginning of a garden project before problems occur.

Growing relationships, too

Experts will also give advice on building a sense of camaraderie and community around a garden by providing garden seating, occasional classes and ice cream socials or watermelon cuttings.

The UGA Community Gardening Blog also provides gardeners with a window into what other gardeners are doing. The blog will occasionally highlight a specific garden, show photos of the layout and interview members. Gardens are as unique as the communities they serve and the blog will profile how garden groups organize their space.

For more information on the blog, contact Becky Griffin at beckygri@uga.edu or visit and sign up to receive the blog at blog.extension.uga.edu/communitygardening.

Becky Griffin is a community and school garden coordinator with UGA Extension.

Authors:
Becky Griffin
Experts/Sources:
Becky Griffin
University of Georgia Extension agent Kisha Faulk answers a gardener's questions at the Atlanta Mission's garden.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
A student harvests red clover at UGArden. CAES News
UGA horticulture class shows students the science behind herbal remedies 04/16/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
The field of medicine is ever-changing, and the use of herbal medicines may play a bigger role in health care as the value of natural remedies gain recognition in the Western world. Students at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are delving into the field of medicinal remedies through the class “Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants.” Offered to undergraduate students through the Department of Horticulture, the class helps students develop a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and health.
Peach growers are looking forward to a fruitful season as the weather this winter and spring have been near-perfect for the sensitive crop. This year is projected to be a much-needed comeback from the disastrous season they experienced after a late freeze in March 2023 took out more than 90% of the state's crop. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA) CAES News
Growers hopeful 2024 peach season will rebound from disastrous 2023 04/10/24 Emily Cabrera
Last year, the peach industry lost $60 million due to the late freeze that hit much of the Southeast in mid-March 2023, said Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent for Peach and Taylor counties. With no freezing temperatures in the forecast and hope for strong pricing during the upcoming season, peach growers are looking forward to a much-needed rebound year.
A mug of UGArden's chamomile tea. CAES News
UGArden herbal tea program launches sales in campus dining halls 03/21/24 Jordan Powers
The door to UGArden’s herb drying room leads to an olfactory explosion — sharp peppermint, earthy tulsi, sweet calendula and floral chamomile mix into an herbal perfume that would undoubtedly have tea drinkers reaching for their kettles. Now University of Georgia students will be able to get a taste of UGArden’s chamomile tea, along with a selection of the student community farm’s other herbal teas, with their campus meals as the UGArden medicinal herb program expands into UGA dining halls this spring.
UGA horticulture course teaches fundamentals of floral design CAES News
UGA horticulture course teaches fundamentals of floral design 02/08/24 Jordan Powers
As students filter into Julie Campbell’s Tuesday morning lab, they are greeted by bins of sharp tools lining cold, stainless steel tables. It’s dissection day, but not the kind you may expect. This is “Floral Design and Management,” or HORT 3030, and today’s lesson is the anatomy of a flower. Students pass pale pink carnations and delicate yellow-and-orange Alstroemeria around the room as Campbell, assistant professor in the University of Georgia Department of Horticulture, begins a lecture on plant morphology.
UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers Sharon Kane and Becky Griffin put together a map displaying the economic value of pollinators to spread awareness about the impact of pollinators and the necessity of continued conservation. (Photo by Chamberlain Smith/UGA) CAES News
Mapping the economic value of pollinators 02/07/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
From beetles to butterflies, pollinators are a beautiful and integral part of nature. However, these tiny creatures may be more economically important to agricultural and ecological systems than previously thought. In a recent project by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development at the University of Georgia, economist Sharon Kane and plant protection expert Becky Griffin have put together a powerful map displaying the economic importance of pollinators across Georgia.  
At a recent event hosted by City of Refuge, 10 fellows packed 1,200 bags for students who are dealing with food insecurity. (Photo by Wes Mayer) CAES News
UGA program addresses food insecurity in Athens 01/18/24 Kristen Linthicum
The University of Georgia’s Office of Service-Learning has established longstanding partnerships with community organizations to help address local food insecurity. Last September, the office launched the AmeriCorps Community Food Fellows program to further support these organizations. Since then, the 20 fellows have connected with organizations across the Athens community, serving daily meals at Our Daily Bread, harvesting food at UGArden, packing meals with Campus Kitchen, and delivering meals to families served by the Athens Community Council on Aging.