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Youth Council builds community garden
pickett park 1
Tavari Turner, Project Manager of Georgia forward and the GMA (Georgia Municipal Association) presenting Bryan County High School students Maddie Walraven, Leah Johnson and Erianna Morgan with a $500 to their Youth Place Making Project. (Photo provided).
pickett park 2
Maddie Walraven cutting up 2x12 wood for the end of the planter boxes. (Photo provided).

Justin Hall, correspondent


Pembroke Mayor Tiffany Zeigler held the inaugural Community Garden Build Day at Pickett Park this past Saturday, September 6.


The event was composed of members of the Mayor's Youth Council, who are students from Bryan County High School between the 10th and 12th grades. Their capstone project is the finished Community Garden project.


Mayor Zeigler--who oversees the Mayor's Youth Council--said the event was specifically designed to give them agricultural experience such as planting and growing food. She also mentioned that the Youth Council was responsible for the project and oversaw raising the financial aspects to make it a reality.


"This was their brainchild with applying for grants and funding from start to finish," Mayor Zeigler said. "I like to see how our youth can get involved in the community." 


The three main individuals selected for the project were Maddie Walraven,  Leah Johnson and Erianna Morgan. Walraven, who is a senior at Bryan County High, expressed the belief that their efforts can leave a lasting impact.


"We just hope that it continues to grow throughout the years with the new councils," Walraven said. 


The girls helped build things such as garden beds and Erianna Morgan, also a senior, states that she hopes a project such as this will help support agricultural awareness and even encourage the elderly population to have something to do.


"We can bring something very small for the people to grow what they want to grow," Morgan said. "This helps older folks to do something in the community so they can have something to do as well. This could be a good thing for Bryan County."


Tavari Turner, Project Manager of GeorgiaForward, presented the girls with a grant for $500 towards the project. 


The Mayor and her Youth Council wishes to thank the following individuals for their contributions:


GeorgiaForward Youth Placemaking Collaborative Grant

Coastal Soil & Water Conservation District

Bryan County Republican Party

Southeastern Bank

M.E. Sack Engineering

YellaWood/Great Southern Wood Preserving

Owens Supply Company

Storehouse Salvage

Page Feed & Seed

Mark & Tiffany Zeigler

Johnnie and Angie Miller (Donors)

Pembroke Fire Department 

Pembroke Street Department


Justin Hall is a freelance correspondent.

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