By: Tyra Redmond
The entrance to Crossroads
community garden is located in Lithonia, GA.
Gardener, Cy Hulse, 70. He has 15 years of
gardening and farming experience.
Hulse begins his work by watering a plant nearby.
He proceeds to pick the plant
up.
I assist by holding the plant as he climbs the
ladder.
The plant is successfully hung on the edge of the facility.
I'm shown the garden.
The Gardener explains the
different plots where produce is grown seasonally.
There are 25 plots in the garden. "I take a shovel by hand and turnover all the plots-- I'll pull out anything that's dying or doesn't belong," said Hulse.
This 375-gallon water tank keeps produce alive and flourishing.
Ready to eat tomatoes. "You can
pick tomatoes here almost to Halloween," stated Hulse.
Hulse points out some fresh
cabbage.
I get a closer look at the
cabbage.
Herbs are growing.
This tall plant is essential
for the way it grows a particular vegetable. "Cucumbers grow like crazy, but they usually lay on the ground and rot. To prevent that from
happening, when
a cucumber grows here, it will hang freely," said Hulse.
I also learned squash is very susceptible to vine borers in the summer. Although, with proper
maintenance, Hulse has much hope for the plant.
There are over 400 community
gardens in Atlanta.
