News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech University (TTU), the State Department of Agriculture, and Seed Fork of the Highlands have partnered to create urban gardens in Cookeville.
Dr. Dennis Duncan is the Director of Tennessee Tech’s School of Agriculture. He said Cookeville’s Urban Gardens will be beneficial to the community.
“It’s really an educational program that we hope will be long-term and could impact not only youth and adults, but seniors as well,” Duncan said.
Duncan said the idea came about after the Department of Agriculture expressed interest in developing an urban garden initiative.
TTU was given a $14,400 grant to help kick-start the initiative in Cookeville.
“This is a great opportunity to collaborate,” Duncan said. “It’s a great way for each of these agencies to reach out into the community and provide a service.”
Duncan said the program goes beyond simply learning how to grow vegetables.
“Objectives would be in regards to production methods,” Duncan said. “How do we preserve, how do we prepare fresh vegetables, and also we’ll do a piece on human health and the health benefits of eating fresh produce.”
The groups plans to host cooking lessons and talks from local farmers once plants begin to produce. Squash, tomatoes, corn, beans, and a variety of other vegetables will be grown in the urban gardens.
Northside Community Garden and El Jardín de la Gracia will be the names of Cookeville’s Urban Gardens.
The Northside Community Garden will be located next to the Northside Community Center on Brown Avenue. El Jardín de la Gracia, or ‘The Garden of Grace,’ will be located on Woodland Avenue.
