Community garden quickly takes root

Palmer Ranch residents are snapping up pieces of property in their neighborhood for $50 each.

But, they’re not grabbing up homes, condos or vacant plots on which to build — they’re reserving spaces in the Culverhouse Community Garden.

Deed restrictions prevent many Palmer Ranch residents from keeping a garden that’s visible from the road, said Catherine Dente, one of the community garden’s organizers.

As a result, she said there’s been great response to the planned garden, even though it is at least six months from being built.

The community garden will be one of the main amenities of a park being created from land Palmer Ranch owner and developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr. donated.

That park will be bordered by The Legacy Trail on the west, The Hamptons subdivision to the southeast and the Wellington Chase subdivision to the northeast.

Out of about 100 garden plots, 53 have already been reserved.

Dente said she doesn’t want to accept any more reservations, because she wants the remaining 40-plus plots to be used by future growers.

Because of the deer and feral hogs in the area, a fence needs to be erected around the garden before anything can be planted.

The fence will cost $13,000. A $10,000 grant will pay for most of that cost, but the $50 plot-reservation fees will go toward making up the balance.

A county-built entrance off McIntosh Road also has to go in before the garden can take root.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected]

MORE INFO
For more information about the Culverhouse Community Garden, contact Catherine Dente at [email protected].

Culverhouse Park
Palmer Ranch owner and developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr. donated 82 acres of undeveloped land to the county, so it could be turned into a park.

The park will be a passive one, with minimal construction and minimal amenities, which will include a nature trails linking with The Legacy Trail, an open play area and a shelter with a restroom.

No more than 50 parking spaces will be located off McIntosh Road.