The Brownwood Area Community Garden invites the public to a special “Relaxing After Taxing” event on April 15th from 5 – 8 p.m. at the garden.

Meme’s Homemade Beef Stew and cornbread, prepared by Steves’ Market and Deli, along with dessert, and a drink will be offered to adults for $10 and $5 for children under 12.  There will also be live music by Debra Mathis.

Tickets are available at the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce or Steves’ Market and Deli and by calling 325-641-9029.  Proceeds benefit the Brownwood Area Community Garden.

The Brownwood Area Community Garden is located at 514 Dublin Street in Brownwood.

About the Brownwood Area Community Garden:

Construction of the garden began in early 2010, funded by a one-time $47,970.00 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grant, received by Central Texas Opportunities. The Garden was built on an unused sports field behind the Central Texas Opportunities offices on Dublin Street.  The total garden area is 125 x 175 feet, which includes sixty-seven garden beds that measure 3′ X 20′.  It is surrounded by an eight-foot-tall deer fence and features a rainwater collection system, drip irrigation, shade arbor, fruit orchard, composting areas, and raised garden beds. Five of the beds were built higher off the ground, to accommodate wheelchair gardeners.

Thirty-four beds are dedicated to growing produce for area food pantries, and the majority of this fresh food is delivered to the Salvation Army Loaves and Fishes free weekday lunch program. In 2015, a total of 2,105 pounds of produce were grown in the garden, and of that 901 pounds were donated.

Thirty of the remaining beds are leased to local residents. The gardeners are expected to care for their own beds, harvest those beds for personal use, and also contribute labor for the pantry beds. Many of our gardeners have never gardened before, but want to learn to grow their own food, in order to be able to feed their families healthier and less expensively.  In addition to having the venue for their first garden, they also have access to the expertise of our Garden Coordinator.

BACG relies on fundraisers to keep the garden going strong.  The public is invited to attend to support the garden and to help keep the garden gate open so that gardeners can continue to plant seeds to feed people.

Pictured above are two plots at the Brownwood Area Community Garden.