In 2003 a Master Gardener steering committee took Daniel Webster’s quote – “Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of humanity.” – to heart with an interest to design and build the county’s first community garden. With the assistance of the director of the Heritage Senior Center along with the county commissioners, the Heritage Village Community Garden planted its first garden in the spring of 2004 and obtained 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit status. In the following 20 years, other community gardens have been developed – Windy Hill, Cubihatcha, Farm Bureau, and Wesley Way.

The goal of the community garden is to offer support, supplies, and garden plots to residents who can then grow their own vegetables. In this way, nutrition can be improved and gardening skills developed. It is hoped that the garden will enhance the lifestyle of residents through promotion of social interaction, health through exercise, and if successfully done, a sense of accomplishment. A community garden also creates quality use of the land and environment along with providing beauty and aesthetic appeal.

In 2012, Wesley Way United Methodist Church provided a 1/4 acre of land for Henry County residents to till, manage, and grow individual areas of produce. Today, thirty-two raised garden plots grow fruits, vegetables and even a few flowers. A small annual fee is required for the land provision and cost of water usage.

In addition to the individual garden plots, the Wesley Way site at 150 John Wesley Way is home to a donation garden – Helping Harvest. Here, another 1/4 acre was also provided by the church to render hunger relief. Volunteers care for various fresh foods such as tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, cabbage, and zucchini. Eagle’s Landing NROTC students, members of the AKA Sorority, and members from other organizations also help by digging holes, fertilizing, and planting the numerous seeds and small plants.

This Helping Harvest Garden has become an important part of the Community Garden’s dedication to help those in need. Helping Harvest is the premiere garden group in Henry County to grow fresh food and distribute it to local pantries and agencies for the benefit of families.

The Wesley Way Community Garden lives up to its entrance sign which states “A Place Where Good Things Grow.” This past year the Helping Harvest Garden produced over 3,400 pounds of vegetables from the 2024 Spring planting. It is anticipated that a total of 4,000 pounds from the current cabbage planting is to be harvested in early December.

Over the Helping Harvest Garden’s existence, more than 120-thousand pounds of produce have been donated to such local food pantries as Helping in His Name Ministries. Depending upon what is planted, harvesting is done every other day on a weekly basis. This fresh produce is then taken to the food bank where it is placed in food boxes for distribution.

By Arolue Flemmen Prater

The Wesley Way Community Garden plays a vital and important role in alleviating hunger in the Henry County community. Help is needed to maintain the gardening efforts and in the assistance of seed and plant ordering costs. If interested in volunteering to help plant or harvest, plan a visit to Helping Harvest Garden and speak to one of the workers. You may also support Helping Harvest Garden by giving a deductible donation. Checks, earmarked for Community Gardens of Henry County, can be sent to P.O. Box 3248, McDonough, GA 30253.