By Peyton Coursey, 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo Intern
Day 2 of the Expo was buzzing with family-friendly activities, and one of the crowd-pullers was the Backyard Garden. This exhibit, a collaboration between the SOWEGA Beekeepers and Flint River Fresh, offered visitors a chance to see fresh produce growing right in the garden while attending hands-on demos and informative seminars on beekeeping.
Flint River Fresh, a non-profit based in Albany, Ga., aims to make gardening and food accessible to everyone. They focus on educating communities, especially through local schools and local farms, on how easy it can be to grow your garden at home. Led by Farmer Fredo and his dedicated team, Flint River Fresh is responsible for maintaining the Backyard Garden and preparing it for the Expo. The garden showcases fresh produce such as zucchini, broccoli, cabbage, and a variety of flowers. Their mission is to improve food accessibility while promoting land conservation practices.
The SOWEGA Beekeepers Association plays a crucial role in helping farmers and gardeners learn the essentials of beekeeping, which is critical for pollinating crops. With Georgia facing a shortage of native bees, many farmers have to rent hives to pollinate their fields. However, by educating these growers on how to keep and manage their own bees, the need for renting hives is reduced, enabling crops to flourish throughout the year with native bees.
Don’t miss your chance to visit the Backyard Garden and learn something new. It’s located between Gates 2 and 3 on the West side of the grounds.
