By Rhonda Cook and Jesse Bathrick.
A new Chapter of an evolving story “Mulberry Fields Forever”
Have you heard about Mulberry Fields?
It’s a hidden magical oasis of community gardens with goats, chickens, Hobbit houses, and green space tucked away in the middle of Candler Park.
But it almost wasn’t.
In 1992, developers were eyeing an acre of land tucked behind several houses and accessible only by a narrow gravel alley at 1301 Iverson St.
But neighbors stepped up with a vision that was different from the developers. And seven years later, with a grant from the United Way and a little help from the Atlanta Food Bank, Mulberry Fields was born.
There were goats and chickens. Swings for the kids. And plots for gardeners that didn’t have a place to grow food.
For 16 years, a group of neighbors managed the garden until the partnership with Wylde Center brought experience and resources to provide valuable upgrades — most recently rain gardens to mitigate the flooding that was causing a great deal of damage.
But now it’s time to revitalize our roots and return our focus to our own neighborhood. Neighbors and friends of the garden have stepped into creating a future vision for this hidden gem.
First, the LLC Mulberry Fields Conservancy was created to hold the deed with the goal of upholding the conservation easement agreements and values in partnership with Georgia Piedmont Land Trust.
But who will manage all aspects of the garden — the day-to-day operations and upkeep, plot holders, event and rentals, fundraising, animals?
Second, those responsibilities have fallen to the neighbors and volunteers who are the bedrock of the non-profit Friends of Mulberry Fields, a newly formed federal 501(c)3.
Friends of Mulberry Fields needs your support to step into this new Chapter in a long History.
Tax-deductible donations are appreciated and can be made at
https://www.friendsmulberryfields.org/donate.
But Mulberry Fields needs more to ensure the garden is a welcoming place for kids to play, friends to visit, and gardeners to work their vegetable plots.
Become a member of Friends of Mulberry Fields and join a committee. Attend a workday. Host or sponsor an event.
And don’t forget to visit the goats and chickens of Mulberry Fields.
Mulberry Fields runs on people power. Bring your skills, your talents, your enthusiasm to this hidden oasis. It will be a rewarding and exciting way to keep our Candler Park community vibrant and strong.
Please follow the link below to stay connected, receive updates, and volunteer:
forms.gle/uVg8CTVRrRebfY4Y7