A fenced community garden with blooming flowers in the foreground and various plants inside, reflecting the spirit of growing good; a round “Acworth Community Garden” logo is displayed on the right.

Growing Good with the Acworth Community Garden

Tucked within the heart of Acworth’s Parkside District is a place where neighbors gather, pollinators thrive, and fresh food helps support local seniors in need. The Acworth Community Garden has quickly become more than just a garden — it’s a space rooted in service, education, and connection.

Four people stand outdoors smiling at the camera, one holding a large red ribbon, celebrating the Acworth Community Garden. Trees and fellow community gardening enthusiasts appear in the background.

The idea for the garden first began in 2020, when Lori Perkins noted how easy it is to take access to fresh fruits and vegetables for granted. Recognizing that many individuals and families struggle with food insecurity, she wanted to find a way to help, even on a small scale.

“We’ve spent a lot of time cooking and eating together, and we’ve been very fortunate to never have had to worry about affording healthy food.” Lori shared, “creating the garden felt like a meaningful way to give back to the community.”

After developing a plan with the help of her daughter Allie, plant aficionado Mark Cooper, and other members of her circle, she presented the concept to City leaders, and the dream became reality. Ground was broken in the fall of 2021, and construction was completed in spring 2022.

Making the garden possible required true community collaboration. Lori and her team of helpers applied for grants, reached out to local businesses for donations, and recruited volunteers through social media and City events. The result is the vibrant and flourishing garden you see today, growing in size and impact each year.

Overseen by the Acworth Tree Commission, the garden exists as a thriving partnership between the City and an ever-evolving group of amazing volunteers. Every piece of harvested produce supports local seniors experiencing food insecurity with more than 6,200 pounds donated since the first growing season.

Several people work together outdoors at the Acworth Community Garden, digging and moving dirt near a wooden structure, with trees and a fence in the background as part of their community gardening efforts.
A group of young children and an adult gather around a garden bed at Acworth Community Garden, observing plants and learning about growing food outdoors near a fenced area.

The organic, no-till garden features 25 raised beds and produces fresh fruits and veggies from March through November. Beyond providing healthy food, the garden also serves as an educational and recreational space for the community.

Frequently visited by Camp Acworth and the Acworth Achievers, the garden offers a space for students and campers to gain fun, hands-on gardening experience. From crafts, activities, story-times, and digging around in the dirt, they learn all about pollinators, healthy soil, and sustainable growing practices.

The garden also hosts free plant swaps each spring and fall, offering community members an opportunity to gather, share plants, and exchange gardening tips.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by and simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The tables and benches located in the Charlie Mae Griffin Educational Enrichment Zone provide a place for picnics or quiet reflection, while the flower garden attracts a wide variety of pollinators, and has even been designated the 999th garden on the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail in Georgia. And don’t forget to stroll down the path of hand-painted stones to the butterfly mural for the perfect photo op!

Whether you enjoy drawing, photography, gardening, or simply spending time outdoors, the garden offers something for everyone.

A monarch butterfly rests on a pink zinnia flower in the Acworth Community Garden, surrounded by more pink and orange blooms—a vibrant scene that celebrates community gardening and growing food.
Two people work in the Acworth Community Garden, spreading soil in raised beds to start growing food. A shed with a butterfly mural and garden tools are visible in the background.

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to get involved — no gardening experience required! “Come learn and help us grow,” Lori says.

Volunteer opportunities include planting, plant care, harvesting, weighing produce, deliveries, and general garden maintenance. Those interested in joining the email list for workday notifications and upcoming activities can contact the garden at AcworthCommunityGarden@gmail.com or call/text 770-891-2414. Community updates are also shared regularly on Facebook and Instagram. Volunteer workdays currently take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

The Acworth Community Garden continues to grow not only vegetables and flowers, but also kindness, education, and community spirit one season at a time.

Two women stand close together outdoors, smiling at the camera in the Acworth Community Garden, one holding a wooden stick, surrounded by greenery and the spirit of growing food.
A person holds a basket filled with freshly harvested collard greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, and green beans in the Acworth Community Garden next to raised beds—a vibrant scene of community gardening and growing food.
A group of young children sit at outdoor tables eating fruit and vegetables from paper plates, with water bottles and snacks, enjoying a healthy meal together in the Acworth Community Garden.
People browse and purchase plants from tables at an outdoor market event by the Acworth Community Garden; a sign advertises t-shirts and totes, with a grassy field in the background, capturing the spirit of growing good together.
A sign for Cobb & Douglas Public Health is posted on a fence near the Acworth Community Garden, with flowers, benches, and growing food visible, plus a baseball field and trees in the background on a sunny day.
A woman stands behind a table with a floral tablecloth under a canopy, featuring a potted pinwheel, papers, and a detailed Acworth Community Garden layout poster showcasing ways of growing food together.
A group of people, including children, work together at the Acworth Community Garden, tending plants in raised beds with various gardening tools and growing good as a community.
A group of people pose and smile around a raised garden bed at Acworth Community Garden, wearing casual clothes and blue gardening gloves, outdoors and enjoying growing food together.
A group of children wearing bee headbands observe plants growing in the Acworth Community Garden, examining the leaves and stems closely as they learn about growing good together.