by John Murphy, Chair, Prescott Commission on Well-Being
That’s the message Prescott citizens have voiced about the many budding gardening projects sprouting up in our city.
With spring on the horizon, days staying light longer, birds chirping, bees buzzing and flowers blooming, it’s time to think about growing a garden.
More people than ever are gardening not only as a hobby but an important way to ensure food security in a great backyard activity.
Ken Lain, owner of Watters Garden Center and host of the The Mountain Gardener radio show, says he’s never seen such a resurgence of backyard food gardening.
“We were amazed at the amount of fruit and vegetable gardens people grew last year. The Victory Garden was reborn, and people are enjoying their gardens,” Lain says. Watters Garden Center hosts weekly gardening classes on Saturdays.
If you have a black thumb, or don’t have the space to grow your own garden, a great way to get fresh, nutritionally dense food is to visit our local farmers market.
Kathleen Yetman is the executive director of Prescott Farmers Market. She was born and raised in Prescott, where she discovered the joy of gardening in her grandmother’s backyard. She has led the mission to provide a venue for local farmers to connect and sell their goods directly to the public.
Through April 24, the Prescott Farmers Market is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays in the parking lot of Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Miller Valley Lot, 900 Iron Springs Road.
Additionally, a group of passionate citizens are working to bring back a community garden.John Assadorian is leading the effort.
“Our mission is to build community around a gardening culture through the education, resources, and charity that results when we learn to grow our own food together,” he says.
My personal interest in teaching people about gardening has led me to create the nonprofit Make 100 Healthy Foundation, which helps raise money for local farms and gardening programs. The Gardeners of Destiny training program teaches the next generation how to grow a garden. This effort has been led by legendary gardener Daniel Blake working in conjunction with local farms including B Organic Farm in Chino Valley.
It’s exciting to see so many people and organizations embrace the value, joy and benefits of gardening.
Without further ado, Prescott let’s get growing!