It was a wonderful (thankfully rain-free!) morning in Apex on May 18th, celebrating the grand opening of our new location for the Simple Gifts Community Garden. In just fifteen months, this property went from an open, shrubby field to a fully-operational 1/2 acre garden with fencing, irrigation, electricity, 45 rows of crops, and the original, iconic garden shed. Mayor Jacques Gilbert cut the ceremonial ribbon with Pastor Laura Katherine Stern from the sponsoring Apex UMC, and Angie Field represented the YMCA of the Triangle, which generously provides the land the garden shares. Also there to celebrate were representatives from the three food banks we support, including Shirley Fieldings and Helen Davenport from St. Mary’s AME church and Pat Haggard from the Holly Springs Food Cupboard. The Point Church Care Pantry was not able to join, as they were doing their regular food distribution Saturday morning. Approximately 75-100 people celebrated this great milestone together.

To get a sense of all the work that the garden planning team and many garden members have put into re-building this garden, check out the photos below showing 1 year ago vs today! Nonetheless, we still provided 1,000 pounds of food to our food bank partners last year, while still building out the garden! With the last remaining undeveloped section just recently prepared and planted, filling the full half-acre with crops, we look forward to a bountiful harvest in the coming months!

The grand opening included a number of educational displays and activities for adults and kids alike. Garden leaders led tours through the garden, currently planted with nine different spring crops, seventeen summer crops, and perennial raspberries. Members of the South Wake Conservationists led tours of the pollinator beds, with over 50 different species already established along the garden perimeter. Families and kids of all ages had fun and were very engaged in all the activities at various special exhibits that included:

• Simple Gifts Garden – welcome center w/refreshments and promotional souvenirs
• Simple Gifts Garden – tour center and logo-shirt sales
• Simple Gifts Garden – kids seed planting activity
• Simple Gifts Garden – composting demo
• South Wake Conservationists – pollinators display and activities
• South Wake Conservationists – wildlife display and activities
• NC State Extension Master Gardeners – gardening information center
• Chef Kabui – organic produce cooking demo
• Cornhole and bubble-chasing games for the kids!

We look forward to seeing our garden membership grow in our new location, as we work and learn together to build community, feed those in need, and promote sustainability practices. Please enjoy more photos from this event below.