As the first true fall weather lowers temperatures throughout Southwest Georgia, the produce planted in Perry Wellness Center’s peers’ raised garden beds is showing the fruits (or vegetables) of a warmer season’s labor.

The bounty of plump tomatoes has almost ended. Peppers are now at full maturity and ready for harvesting. In addition to the garden beds and campus greenhouses, Rudy’s Happy Patch Market relies on the harvests of local farmers and gardeners. Stuart Perry finds that the continued demand for peas is keeping him on the look-out for growers.

“Once tomatoes were our only year-round vegetable,” Stuart notes “With the climate change and the demand for peas, I think we might have two vegetables to offer year-round at the market.” He smiles and adds, “That is a good menu – fresh tomatoes and peas.”

The cooler weather seems to hasten the pace of staff and peers at the center, right in time for fall activities, whether planning for outings at fall fairs or harvesting the season’s vegetables.

“It is exciting to welcome this cooler weather,” Stuart says. “All of our peers and staff and I seem to show a new activity level. Such a pace makes me happy.”

Keeping up the pace is garden maintenance staffer Jamie Minich, pictured here as she harvests green, red, and yellow peppers.