A group of 10-12 residents of the New Concord area have come together to create a community garden behind College Drive Presbyterian Church.
Heather Coen, Friendship Garden Coordinator, saw a Facebook post earlier this year of a Zanesville-based community garden and contacted the group with interest of creating one in New Concord.
The space that Friendship Garden is located was given to the group by Muskingum University and is being used for free. The garden has raised beds still available and free to New Concord residents while some of the produce will go the College Drive Food Pantry.
“Our intent is for anybody to come into the garden, put in a few hours and then take home some of the produce themselves. Our whole goal is to raise fresh produce for the food pantry,” said Coen.
Friendship Garden has been funded by village residents, a GoFundMe page, the College Drive Presbyterian Church, and the district for the United Methodist Church. Orme-West Do it Best Hardware donated tools and plants and McDonald’s and McDaniel’s Greenhouses donated plants.
“Everyone around town has chipped in a little,” said Coen.
The garden was built May 27 with around 40 to 50 people from the village and they are looking to build a shed to collect rain water.
For more information about Friendship Garden visit their Facebook page or email Coen at heathercoen@yahoo.com.
