They’re in a new location this year, and not the one on which they had originally planned, but Amanda Billings and Chris Glasscock are moving full speed ahead with their second year of the Cordell Community Garden.
The duo started the garden last year, growing fresh vegetables on their residential property and providing them free of charge to the community. They had planned to expand the garden this year, onto a lot that was given to them by the city council, but various obstacles arose in the deal and the lot wasn’t ready when it came time to plant.
Not to be deterred, Billings and Glasscock bought a lot at Third and Crider and moved forward with their planting in early March. The garden is now starting to grow and they hope to begin harvesting vegetables as early as next week.
Glasscock said the garden is now producing squash, cucumbers, okra, corn and tomatoes. He hopes to grow pumpkins and cantaloupe as well.
In addition to purchasing the lot, Billings and Glasscock have deeply invested their own money into the project. They rented the equipment needed to prepare the garden and all the supplies needed to build the irrigation system for the 14,000 square foot lot.
In addition to growing food, the pair hopes to expand the garden to include more volunteers and students from Cordell’s FFA and Ag programs. They also want to expand the garden to include hydroponics . Glasscock said he has been testing a small 40-gallon hydroponics system he built at his home with favorable results.
Billings said their organization, the Cordell Community Garden Foundation, has received approval from the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office as a non-profit entity. They are currently working on obtaining non-profit status with the Oklahoma Tax Commission.