With a lot of support and donations to the Community Garden, workers will not have to spend as much time in the garden as they did a summer ago with the addition of a drip irrigation system that will allow water throughout the entire garden.
A big boost to the irrigation system project came from James and J Hensley.
Mark Spradlin, who leads the volunteer effort in time and effort, said James Hensley spoke to his son J, who is the superintendent for Team Irrigation, about helping with the project after one cost estimate came in at $5,000 to complete and that simply was too much for the garden to take on.
With the support of the Hensleys’, the total project will cost $1,600 and those funds will come from the left over money from the Tobacco Grant awarded to the Garden last year.
J Hensley got all the materials at cost for the garden and paid three of his workers. Both he and his dad volunteer their time.
J Hensley (left) and James Hensley work on the irrigation pipe that will lead to the apple trees.
“This will allow us to save water, time and money,” Spradlin said. “We can not thank them enough for their help.”
Spradlin said all the trees planted from last year did not survive cause they could not get water to them effectively. Now, nine apple trees have been planted and each will have their own irrigation pipe laying right on top of them. Perhaps down the line, the introduction to water solenoid valve types to their pipework could help manage the flow of liquids more effectively, making for an even more sophisticated system.
Last season the garden produced 1,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables and Spradlin expects that number to greatly increase this season.
Along with the irrigation system, the brick walk way has been completed and yet again it came from a generous donation.
Dolese delivered 35 pallets (two semi trucks) of the bricks and volunteers laid them out so that everyone could walk or wheel down the entire garden.
Spradlin expects to start planting in the coming weeks.
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Trenchless Irrigation Installation