Revisiting the new downtown community garden

Photos by Todd Gill, Flyer staff

Remember the community garden that was planted earlier this year outside the new First Security Bank in downtown Fayetteville?

We stopped by this week to check out the progress and found a variety of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers that are growing nicely in what is one of the first commercially-zoned community gardens in Fayetteville.

Adrienne Shaunfield, former executive director of Feed Fayetteville, works with a crew of volunteers to plant crops in May.

Dustin Bartholomew

The bank, located at College Avenue and Meadow Street, partnered with local nonprofit Feed Communities to build several 5-by-15-foot planters along the sidewalk as part of a program to grow and donate food to local community meals and food pantries.

City officials and the University of Arkansas’ Department of Horticulture provided guidance on what to plant to ensure the crops aren’t contaminated from stormwater or vehicle pollutants.

During our visit, we found tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, basil, lavender, and several other crops that should be ready to harvest before too long.

Peter Nierengarten, the city’s director of sustainability, said in May he hopes more businesses will be inspired by the community garden

“We want people to see that edible landscaping can be not only functional, but it can be attractive as well,” said Nierengarten.



 


 

This article is sponsored by First Security Bank. For more great stories of Arkansas food, travel, sports, music and more, visit onlyinark.com.