Community Projects Proposed to Durham Council of Garden Clubs

Durham Co. Horticultural Extension Agent Cheralyn Schmidt
presents her vision for a new greenhouse addition to the
Briggs Ave. Community Garden.

The Durham Council of Garden Clubs meet this week and learned of several opportunities to support local beautification and urban gardening projects.

Durham Co. Horticultural Agent Cheralyn Schmidt presented her initiative to build a greenhouse on the Briggs Ave. Community Garden. Cheralyn has begun growing organic vegetables and plant seedlings in her Durham residence with the ambition of supplying quality plants to all of the Cooperative Extension community and school gardens that she oversees. Some of these gardens are in the planning stages, the goal being to create 14 total sustainable, edible gardens for the community. The greenhouse project will need to raise $5,000 to construct a "hurricane-proof" structure. The mission of this project she said is, "to link gardens together and produce foods for the neediest people in Durham."

To pledge support for the Briggs Ave. Community Garden greenhouse, contact at the Durham County Cooperative Extension, (919) 560-0525.


A History Grove in honor of Dr. John Hope Franklin
was installed in Durham Central Park. Photo by Dr. Steve Channing.

Also presenting at the Council meeting was Dr. Steve Channing of the Museum of Durham History. The Museum's beautification and historical project for Durham parks is titled "History Groves" and features a natural stone resting bench with a plaque dedicated to a Durham figure who carried significant impact to the city's development. These groves are planted with native species and are intended as part education and part beautification for Durham residents to learn more about their forebears.

To learn more about sponsoring a History Grove, visit https://www.museumofdurhamhistory.org/learn/history-groves/.