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ELBERTA – Kids near the Sandy Creek area can now learn how to grow and sustain vegetables, flowers and other greenery at a new community garden. Local Janet Ripp established a permaculture that strives to use natural resources from the land to grow sustainable and healthy food for nearby residents.

Seeing the recent shortage of groceries during the pandemic and Hurricane Sally, Ripp, a former Graham Creek Nature Preserve employee, knows the importance of cultivation and hopes to spread the word.

“I’m now putting things out and talking with people about where to put things, and I invited some expert help here to learn what on the land is good to keep, what’s the best area to plant my herb and root perennial gardens,” she said.

Hoping to get the community involved, Ripp has seen an influx of interest from kids around the community and hopes that other communities will adopt the idea. She said, “I’d love to involve other residents in trying to offer something to help themselves become a part of a sustainable living model by providing a service for good people who would want to dive into the permacultures mission. We can include everybody on the dirt end of our street … We have space, un-zoned and making it possible for these kinds of simple activities.”

Using recycled materials and having a plethora of natural resources around the area makes it great for healthy vegetation and easy growing. During the summer months, kids will have the opportunity to plant and maintain anything from watermelon to green peppers. Kids in the Sandy Creek area are encouraged to bring seeds, smiles and sweat to the new community garden and learn about the easy ways to grow and sustain their own food.