Black Mountain Community Garden Creates Strategic Plan for Future Growth
When a community garden was established in Black Mountain 20 years ago, it started with around a dozen gardeners near Lake Tomahawk. Today, the garden, now named after Dr. John Wilson, is located at 99 White Pine Drive and sees over 100 gardeners renting 84 plots annually. Apart from these plots, the garden allocates over 5,000 square feet of space for gardening donations to Bounty & Soul. Lucille Nelson, a Black Mountain native, now manages the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden full-time.
Dedicated Manager with a Rich History
Nelson’s association with the garden runs deep, having volunteered there in middle school and interned in 2018 under Diana McCall, the garden’s first manager. Taking up the mantle in 2022, Nelson oversees the garden plots and composting efforts, providing free composting services that are unique to Black Mountain. The garden also offers educational programs and a paid internship opportunity.
Strategic Plan for Growth
Nelson recently presented a strategic growth plan for the garden to the Black Mountain Town Council with input from community volunteers. The goal is to consolidate the community’s aspirations for the garden into a unified roadmap. One key priority identified in the plan is the necessity for a new barn at the garden. Nelson highlighted the longstanding need for a new barn, stating, “The garden needs a new facility, and this isn’t a new need. I think there’s been discussions about a barn for over 10 years.”
Fundraising for Future Development
The existing barn at the garden requires repairs and upgrades, being an open-air structure. Nelson envisions a new barn equipped with potable water, electricity, storage space, and potential meeting facilities. While acknowledging the town’s budget constraints, Nelson remains confident in the community’s ability to fundraise for the new barn. She expressed optimism, saying, “We have a really rich and invested community that, if we get the green light on these things that we want to do, we can fundraise no problem because there’s so much community investment.”
Building on Community Support
Community involvement has been pivotal to the garden’s growth and prosperity. The Dr. John Wilson Community Garden owes much of its success to the continual efforts of volunteers, gardeners, and supporters. By aligning future projects with the community’s interests and needs, Nelson aims to secure a promising future for the garden.
Looking Ahead
As the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden in Black Mountain continues to progress and diversify, its strategic plan charts a course for sustainable expansion. Emphasizing enhancements to infrastructure and the expansion of educational programs, the garden remains a vibrant nucleus for the community to unite, learn, and nurture the land.
