On the outskirts around the Georgia Dome, an abandoned parking lot and field has turned into the makings of a community garden. But this isn't an ordinary garden. You won't find large plots of land or rows of irrigation. Instead, on the 3.5-acres of land, you'll find hundreds of milk crates filled with soil: some with the tiny sprouts from seedlings, others with towering tomato plants or colorful rainbow chard. This is the site of the 3x3 Project, a community gardening effort that's growing sustainable, organic plants.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Markus Gaffney created the 3x3 Project as a way to bring gardening to everyone. “I wanted to create a community garden that could be used to supplement for the lack of nutrients in Atlanta’s urban areas,” says Gaffney. “You have to be mobile, because people are mobile. This garden is designed to go different places.”
Through research and development, Gaffney settled upon growing in 16-quart milk crates. The name “3x3” comes from his nine-grid system: three crates high, three crates wide, and three crates long. It eliminates the backaches that often come with bending over garden beds. 18 inches is the furthest you reach from any side of the grid, making it easy for disabled or elderly to tend to their gardens.
The 3x3 Project is growing rainbow chard, pole beans, multiple varieties of tomatoes- even microgreens and corn shoots, which they are working to sell to local restaurants. Gaffney set up a 3x3 garden on Woodfire Grill’s patio, and chef Matthew Weinstein utilized its offerings until the restaurant closed its doors. Now Gaffney is looking for additional restaurant partners.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Gaffney has been gardening his entire life, but in the past few decades his gardening has been a form of horticulture therapy. Gaffney came from a military family- his dad did a tour in Vietnam- and Gaffney was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky in the 80’s. After he retired from the military, gardening helped him cope with PTSD and other post-military emotional stresses he has faced.
“I never realized how important gardening was for me, until I stopped doing it. When I began to spiral, I realized it was because I needed to grow,” says Gaffney. “People always thought it was strange that I would grow these 100-foot gardens, but never ate from them. I just told my neighbors they could take what they wanted.”
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Gaffney is hoping that his 3x3 gardens could provide a similar form of relief to those on active military. “When you’re out there, you need to know there is life back home. These gardens provide color, and don’t require anything but water. If we send over peppers or tomatoes, that’s something healthy and fresh that soldiers can add to MREs.”
The summer is a busy time for the 3x3 Project. Besides their goals of reaching the military, the 3x3 Project wants to build the community in their Castlebury Hills neighborhood. The Walker Street garden site is under construction, as Gaffney and his team work to transform the space into an outdoor park and artisan alley. Gaffney just received a market garden grant to host his own farmers market, The Atlanta Veterans Farmers Market, on-site. He hopes that by the end of summer, his market will be open for business.
About the Author
