Those with a “green thumb” for gardening but nowhere to exercise it will soon have a place to do that.
The City of Olive Branch has plans for a Community Garden project this year for the upcoming growing season and a public interest meeting has been planned for City Hall. That meeting will be held on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m.
Mayor Ken Adams said the idea of a community garden came from a similar garden that has been done in Shelby County over several years near the firing range near Shelby Farms Park.
“I’ve watched them over three decades, starting with just a handful of seniors begin some community gardens on Shelby County property,” Adams said. “I’m going to say they now have 100-200 plus gardens out there.”
Adams said he thought some people may be interested in gardening but may not have the land to do so, or have interest but don’t know lot about gardening. So land located near the Olive Branch Soccer Complex will be plotted out. He said it will be a project the Mayor’s Youth Council members will be involved in. Stateline Turf and Tractor will till and prep the soil.
“We will divide it, spring it off, and they’re going to till it up,” Adams said. “We’ll run water to the food plots down the middle, not to every food plot but to run water so they can get water.”
He added the DeSoto County Co-op in Olive Branch will offer some discounts on seed and materials, “so it just looks like a good opportunity to use some city property,” Adams said. “It’s a good way to let people use city property to grow some vegetables and some products, get the Youth Council involved, and make it a positive event for everybody who wants to participate.”
As of last week, eight people have expressed interest and the meeting on Jan. 30 will offer more specific information to attract more interest. There is no charge for those who take part in the garden project.
“They will be responsible for getting the materials and things, but we do not plan to have a charge,” Adams said.
At the interest meeting on the 30th, it will be determined the number of gardeners who want to participate and set up ground rules. If the number of participants is low, those who do want to use the garden will have the chance to acquire more plots. The soil is then tilled and the gardeners can then begin to start showing off the “green thumb.”
“This being the inaugural year, we’ll learn and we need to learn,” Adams said. “But I think that’s a good thing as well. Hopefully we’ll succeed in 205 and make it better in 2026.”
If interested or if you need more information ahead of the public interest meeting on Jan. 30, send an email to info@obms.us to ask questions or confirm your attendance to the meeting.
