Community Garden Continues Growing
Greensburg's community garden started with $2,000 and an idea from an intern and it's only growing as it heads into its second year!
Noelle Maxwell
It started with an idea from an intern and $2,000 and is heading into its second year. Greensburg’s community garden was first planted last year. “In 2024 and 2025, we had an intern – Esther Parr – she was tasked with the responsibility of determining where some deficiencies are in the county,” explained Decatur County Health Department Environmental Health Manager Alicia Nobbe. “She,” Nobbe continued, “discovered that a chunk of our community is food insecure” and doesn’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Parr discussed this with the rest of the department, including director Sean Durbin and decided to start a community garden.
From idea to county approval to first planting, the garden has truly been a community effort. The health department, Purdue Extension, Decatur County Soil and Water, Decatur County Solid Waste Management and the Greensburg Decatur County Public Library, all collaborated – soil and water donated rain barrels, the library donated compost pails and the garden organizers gave presentations to the community. Crops were planted and harvested, then, the managers weighed every item and put it on the harvest shelf for anyone who wanted it. Items that weren’t picked up within a few days were donated to the Bread of Life or, if the produce was going bad, put into the compost pile.
This year, the garden attained 501c3 status, which opens up their ability to apply for grants. They operate completely through donations – for example the Give-Un-Take Garden Club donated money for supplies and seeds this year, last year, all plants were donated by Expressions Florist and Harvest Supermarket, with Expressions planning to donate plants this season, too.
Giving back to the community for Stephanie Westbrook, Decatur County Recycling executive director, has been one of the most rewarding elements of seeing the community garden grow. “Our motto is ‘nourish our neighborhood,’ so we really want to be able to give back to the people,” she said. She noted that the garden could be particularly valuable to older people or those living in apartments or a home with a small yard to “still get out, enjoy the sunshine, socialize and have fresh food.” Nobbe said for her, “it’s been amazing to see,” the garden grow and that seeing the partnerships forming in the community as groups donate materials and volunteer, stand out.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the garden can message the Decatur County Community Garden Facebook page or call the health department, extension office, soil and water office, solid waste management office or library to learn more. The garden also seeks board members – the board meets monthly and meetings are typically an hour. A community planting day will be held May 16.
What's Growing at the Garden
Here's a list of what crops are currently planned for the 2026 season:
- Tomato
- Potatoes
- Zucchini
- Jade green beans
- Sweet potatoes
- Jalapeños
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Cucumbers
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Basil
- Radish
- Beets
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Corn
- Strawberries
- Asparagus
