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AREA OF FOCUS: OUTREACH AND CONNECTION
Harvesting More than Benefits
Public benefits programs can provide low-income persons with much needed assistance to improve their quality of life. But sometimes other opportunities beyond structured benefits programs can help to supplement these. The Common Ground Community Garden in northwest Tennessee is one example. Co-located with several local service organizations, the garden provides economic and health benefits, as well as recreational opportunities, for citizens in this rural area.
Who was the target audience?
Low-income seniors, families and their caregivers, as well as anyone interested in healthy eating.
What did they do?
In early 2009, Mariann Hagy (now Garden Coordinator) learned from the Paris/Henry County Food Bank that many persons who did not qualify for food assistance still sought help putting food on the table. This gave birth to the idea that a community garden could fill part of this need, but also provide a place for local citizens to work, harvest, learn, or just relax. As she says, "It has been shown that community gardening improves people's quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education."
Planting the Common Ground Community Garden began in April 2009 on the grounds of the Central Community Service Center, a building that houses numerous local agencies providing benefits for low-income populations - including the Food Bank, Office on Aging, Meals for Seniors, Family Services, Northwest Tennessee Human Resource Agency, rural public transportation, adult education and other public services.
The location was selected based on its size and features. The fenced-in plot is roughly 100' x 100' and also has a curved circular concrete walkway lined with raised beds which allow persons with disabilities to access a large part of the garden. The garden contains a variety of vegetables, edible flowers, and herbs.
What was the result?
In the 20 weeks of its first growing season, the garden produced several hundred pounds of produce each week, including tomatoes, beans, peppers, eggplant, cantaloupe and watermelon. A portion was set aside specifically for the Food Bank, with the remainder disseminated across the wider community. The garden's location, notes Mariann Hagy, brings "the people who need help the most right to our door."
For more information:
Mariann Hagy, Garden Coordinator
Common Ground Community Garden
55 Jones Bend Rd.
Paris, TN 38242
(731) 336-1111
voodoochild@bellsouth.net
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