EHDA eyes possible third community garden in future

Published 8:52 am Wednesday, April 26, 2017

While the regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting went relatively brief, there are lots of happenings going on with the Elizabethton Housing and Development Agency. 

Community interaction within the first community garden at Pine Ridge, offered by the Carter County Community Advisory Board, went off without a hitch according to EHDA Executive Director Kelly Geagley. 

Needless to say, it was time to bring in another.

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Citizens will soon have the opportunity to help out at two community locations. CAB Garden Project Chair Jilian Reece recently announced that citizens could help with garden areas at Pine Ridge and the newest at the United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County office within the Arney Hill community from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on May 16.

“Our community garden was such a big success,” Geagley said. “We’re able to double up the effort now with United Way having the garden at their new location. It’ll be a great way for residents in that community to have a great resource and get involved. We’re excited about the progress.”

Geagley added that the hope in the future is for a third garden to be located in the Blackbottom community in Elizabethton. 

Individuals can contact Reece via email at ccdpdirector@outlook.com to learn more about the gardening date.

But when discussing the future, Geagley added the EHDA is taking necessary steps to be involved more. One recent partnership struck up by the department is with the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition. 

“We’re excited about the partnership,” Geagley said. “This is a way for us to be involved with the group, have their activities up in our communities, we can bring actions down to their office. It’s a win-win.”