Northwest Alabama communities recently became a little greener with the addition of numerous Community Raised Garden Sites across Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston Counties.

The Northwest AL Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) planned and constructed raised garden beds at 10 different sites across the area including senior centers, public housing complexes, high schools, and public parks.

The work was made possible by a $30,000 education grant provided to RC&D by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System/Auburn University.

Northwest AL RC&D staff was involved in all phases of the project including framing the boxes, filling them with topsoil, and working with individuals at each site to determine what plants they would most like to grow in their garden.

RC&D Programs Assistant Heath King said, “Since the sites chosen served people of many different ages and walks of life, there was a wide range of things grown including tomatoes, squash, peppers and other vegetables but also many different annual and perennial flowers.” Miraculously, the boxes that were built at a public housing complex in Hackleburg survived the tornadoes for the most part, but RC&D provided additional supplies after April 27 to more than double the number of boxes Hackleburg had before the storm.

“We felt it was important that these folks be able to continue doing the hobbies they love, and the garden boxes also provide free produce for some who are struggling after being hit hard by the storm,” King said.

Roger Hayes, Chairman of the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council, expressed his appreciation to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as well as all the Senators, Representatives, and elected officials who represent the Districts these gardens are in and who provide support for the RC&D program in the State Legislature.