The Auburn Downtown Development Authority is calling residents to get down and dirty, in the garden that is. The authority kick-started the season on May 16 by conducting a meeting with the Auburn Green Thumb Society.

The group built raised-bed-garden boxes and discussed the design of the new Auburn Community Garden. Each society member received a packet with garden rules and regulations at the meeting.

Sherrie Miller is coordinator for the Auburn DDA and Diann Dirks is the director of the community garden project.

Dirks also teaches gardening workshops at the Winder Library on Tuesday nights.

Many members registered for additional plots at the meeting and at the next meeting, members will assemble the raised beds and sift the soil to create a clean foundation for the organic gardens.

There are still plots available and a $35 membership fee provides one 4x8 raised-bed frame, access to the community garden mulch and natural fertilizer bins, a seed-sharing program and assistance from expert gardeners.

In July, Auburn will host a Farmer’s Market that will run through September.

"The growers are a select group who specialize in organic gardening, so the produce should be outstanding," said Miller. "We plan to be open on Wednesday afternoons from 4- 8:30 p.m."

At the end of the summer there will be a harvest dinner to celebrate the success of the garden crops.

To register or get more information on how to become involved, contact Sherrie Miller at (770) 963-4002 ext. 228.