By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Volunteers with a Selma non-profit are excited to move some dirt Saturday during a workday on a community garden endeavor.

Grow Selma is hosting a volunteer day at the Mill Village Community Garden and Food Park Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8 a.m.

Grow Selma is inviting the community to help as they start work on the garden.

“We’re going to build some signs that will advertise the Mill Village Community Garden out there, build some compost bins and get some composting going,” said Chip Spencer, a member of Grow Selma.

Along with some sprucing up, Spencer said, orchard trees will be planted.

“There has been a lot of hard work put into this, and to get out there and to finally start planting something is just a dream come true for the entire group,” Spencer said.

Spencer said the project started over a year ago when the Blackbelt Benefit Group leased two-acres of land near the intersection of Jackson Street and Morgan Avenue.

While volunteers are asked to do a little bit of work Saturday, Spencer said the main focus will be having fun and learning.

“This is going to be a volunteer day, but it is going to be more about learning about our proposed community garden rather than a lot of backbreaking work,” Spencer said. “We’re going to have a good time out there, and that is the whole point of it,and till the soil together.”

Spencer said the garden will allow people to come together while growing and sharing their fresh produce.

“Gardening is quite a wonderful community activity and something people can do with family, friends and neighbors,” Spencer said. “So we’re going to provide a place where anyone in Selma can come out and pick a little area and have their own garden and share their produce and their hard work with others.”

According to Spencer, Saturday will be a day for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s going to be an exciting fun day, and we would love to invite the entire community of Selma to come out and share this day with us,” Spencer said.