At the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Hometown Harvest turns the historic Vickery House into a garden and outdoor classroom that serves the UNG food pantry and Lumpkin County Schools. You hear how students, faculty, and community partners grow tomatoes, onions, berries, and more, preserve heirloom seeds, and deliver fresh produce to salad bars and neighbors in need. 

Historic Vickery House

Credit: ung.edu

At the edge of the UNG campus and just off the Dahlonega square, a small garden does big work. Hometown Harvest began as an after-school STEM idea, then grew into a teaching space where students learn to plant, prune, weigh harvests, and manage pests. Dr. David Patterson describes the goal simply: teaching college students how to garden, then using that knowledge to feed others.

The produce moves quickly. School nutrition director Julie Knight Brown shares how surplus tomatoes and salad greens land on school salad bars, giving Lumpkin County students bright, local food. On campus, administrative assistant Sherry Parker manages the UNG Food Pantry, which operates on a supermarket model that allows visitors to choose what they need. When fresh vegetables are on the shelves, you feel the care behind the donation.

Student voices shape the project. Biology lab coordinator Morgan Sutherland explains how volunteers from various majors design projects, earn practicum hours, and connect their curiosity to service. Along the fence line, you find thornless blackberries, rows of onions, and heirloom apple trees. In the seed bank, you find stories from Appalachian families who saved varieties for generations. It all adds up to a living lesson in food, community, and shared responsibility.

 

Georgia Grown Logo

A Fork in the Road airs Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on GPB-TV. Check your local listings for other replays throughout the week and watch all episodes anytime at GPB.org/ForkintheRoad.  Please download and subscribe to the Fork in the Road podcast at GPB.org/ForkintheRoadpodcast or on your favorite podcast platform.