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Forsyth County resident says community garden helps seniors, provides year‑round gardening options
Summary
Don Skeens, a retired Forsyth County resident, told a public meeting the county community garden lets him continue gardening, start seedlings at home in a small hydroponic system and assist fellow seniors with watering and repairs; he said staff respond quickly to maintenance requests.
Don Skeens, a retired Forsyth County resident, told an unspecified public meeting that the county’s community garden allows him to continue gardening and helps other seniors stay involved in gardening activities. "I'm Don Skeens," he said, and added, "I worked in the parks and recreation field for 40 years."
Skeens said the garden matters because his current residence does not allow gardening. "Where I presently live is not allowed, so this is great," he said, describing how he transplants seedlings he starts at home into the garden. He said he starts plants in January using a small hydroponic growing system so he can "see what I'm getting" before transplanting outdoors.
Listing seasonal crops, Skeens said he grows tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, a few potatoes, garlic and peppers and that "most all this is just this season, but there's a few of us that do it year round." He described helping fellow residents who are physically limited by removing plants, assisting with watering and repairing sprinkler systems when needed. "If someone has a problem, we all try to help each other," he said, and he added that maintenance concerns raised to staff "usually gets solved pretty quick."
Skeens characterized the garden as a cooperative environment that supports a substantial senior contingent in Forsyth County. His remarks were delivered as an individual public comment; the record does not show any formal action or vote tied to his statement.
