By Amber Veverka
The Matthews Community Garden will add up to 25 more plots for area gardeners following the garden’s successful bid for an expansion grant.
The garden, located along Matthews-Pineville Road near Christ Covenant Church, received a $3,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and the N.C. Park and Recreation Association. The money, part of the new ”Nourishing North Carolina” program, is aimed at increasing access to healthy food.
“It’s another opportunity for people who may not have space on their own property, who love to garden,” said Corey King, Matthews recreation program supervisor. The grant requires participating gardeners to donate at least 10 percent of their plot’s produce to charity.
The waiting list for the Matthews garden, like those for all other Charlotte-area community gardens, is long, and King said the new plots will go to people on the list first. [Disclosure: This writer gardens at the site.] The grant will pay for fencing and soil preparation and the new area already has been marked. The plots should be open next year. King said the city of Matthews is eyeing another location for an additional community garden in the future.
