The recognition of the benefits of locally-grown foods in terms of superior flavor, food safety and availability of heritage and unique ethnic vegetable varieties has caused the popularity of community gardens to steadily increase, especially in urban and sub-urban areas. FY 2017-2018 has seen an increase in the Jessamine County Extension Service’s involvement in several unique community garden projects.

The “Garden of The Nations” Community Garden has been developed by Asbury Theological Seminary for use primarily by the international students and their families living in the married student housing complex. The community garden has a membership of approximately 50 members and includes participants from the local community (Wilmore) and the seminary’s student body comprising singles and families from South Korea, China, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Congo, Ghana, the UK, The USA and other nations.

Participants in the Community Garden learn vegetable gardening, composting, recycling, egg production, bee keeping and many other skills. The Community Garden serves as a living laboratory, teaching the principles of personal responsibility and multicultural community building. Several of the gardeners have had previous agricultural experience in the home countries, but many desire to learn new skills to aid in their service to the poor.

The Community Garden Coordinator has collaborated closely with Asbury University, the University of Kentucky and the Jessamine County Extension Service. The Jessamine County ANR Agent has worked closely with the Community Garden Coordinator to provide technical support and soil testing and to assist in writing an Ag. Development Community Garden grant request to provide funding for a greenhouse. The greenhouse will extend the growing season of the community garden allowing its participants to enjoy their safe, nutritious and unique cultural and ethnic crops for longer periods each year.