Watershed group announces its community garden plans at Evergreen Middle School

The Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group (CCWG) will begin construction on a community garden at Evergreen Middle School to open in April, CCWG Director Brynn Nolan said last week, thanks to a $7,500 grant from the Tehama County Community Action Partnership.

With the grant funding, Nolan said the group will purchase fencing, drip irrigation supplies and seeds. While community members are welcome to help in the garden, Nolan said that food would be distributed only through the Shepherd's Heart food bank managed through the First Baptist Church, 3320 Brush St. in Cottonwood.

Also, due to the nature of the grant funding, only residents of Tehama County will benefit from the garden during the first year. Afterward, any low income, senior or disabled resident in the CCWG watershed will benefit, Nolan said.

The school will provide the land and students will comprise a majority of the volunteer force farming the garden, Evergreen Middle School Principal Brad Mendenhall said.

Additionally, Mendenhall said produce from the garden may be included in student lunches, pending a review of state regulations.

In other business, the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group (CCWG) held its annual meeting Jan. 28 to elect three new board members. But due to two applicants dropping out of the race, all three remaining candidates won seats on the board for lack of competition, Nolan said.

The three winning candidates were Ronald Meyers, Louise Wilkinson, and incumbant Jim Busher. They join current board members Jim Curry, president, Sheri Curry, secretary, and treasurer Judy Huddleston, treasurer.

Since a former board member moved out of the district, the watershed group was still seeking a seventh member to join the board, Nolan said.

About 45 people attended the meeting and took part in a pot luck dinner as Nolan announced upcoming watershed projects.