Volunteers began work on a new project at Briggs Avenue Community Garden on October 31, thanks to a $10,000 Lowe’s Community Partners grant that supports the mission of Keep Durham Beautiful.
The grant provides funding to expand the existing garden space at Briggs Avenue Community Garden to create new demonstration areas, develop a vineyard and improve accessibility for individuals with limited mobility.
Briggs Avenue Community Garden, located at 1303 South Briggs Avenue in Durham, was founded to address issues of food security, to improve diet and to provide Durham youth and families with resources and education to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Keep Durham Beautiful grant is one of more than 60 merit-based grants awarded nationally by Lowe’s to community-based affiliates of Keep America Beautiful to support grassroots service projects.
Garden volunteers will work alongside local Lowe’s employee volunteers, called Lowe’s Heroes, and City and County staff to accomplish the following projects:
• Create a 400-square-foot mortared brick patio with lighting, fans, seating and cooking stations for public use in demonstrations and community gatherings
• Develop a vineyard with grapes and blueberries to teach vineyard cultivation and management for the community
• Create accessible raised garden beds for plot owners with limited mobility
“The power of the partnership between Lowe’s and Keep America Beautiful can be seen in the work accomplished by Keep Durham Beautiful and the Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers who spend countless hours to make a difference in our targeted community initiatives,” said Jennifer Jehn, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Keep America Beautiful is thrilled to work with Lowe’s to continue transforming public spaces into beautiful places for a third year.”
Over the course of the partnership, KAB and Lowe’s have brought together more than 33,000 volunteers and 800 Lowe’s Heroes. Together, they’ve contributed 170,000 volunteer hours in their respective communities.
Since the Briggs Avenue Garden began in 2010, more than 55 families have grown at least 50 types of fruits and vegetables and harvested 7000 pounds of produce valued at $14,000. Over 40 partners including Cooperative Extension, local garden clubs, community colleges and businesses have helped to develop the garden.
To volunteer in the garden expansion project or to rent a garden plot, contact the Durham County Cooperative Extension Durham County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers at 919-560-0528 or mastergardener@dconc.gov.