“Model of the future for regional community gardens.” Bob Davis, Jackson Area Ministries 'Go through.'” Founded in the 1970s, one of JAM's core areas of ministry is the Green Thumb Project, which helps people in need grow their own gardens and provides the seeds and plants they need, according to Paul Clever, a JAM board member. Through this outreach, Davis said that he knew of six significantly large-sized community gardens that benefit food pantries in the region, and that HCA's is the largest and best organized. “To me, (Pegram's) idea, and the way they've persevered and organized it, is really the model of the future for regional community gardens because food banks are having a harder time getting food,” Davis said.
42 | Salt | Summer 2011
The generosity continued to extend beyond seed and plants to other gardening essentials. Melvin Liquid Fertilizer in Sabina donated pesticides and weed killer, the Highland County Engineer's Office donated stakes and survey tape, and Five Points Implement loaned equipment, manpower and resources to prep the grounds and plant the sweet corn and green beans in early June. “We decided to help out to be able to help the community and help unfortunate families that can't always control their destiny,” said Jeff Parry, general manager of Five Points Implement in Hillsboro.
REAPING WHAT IS SOWN As the tending stages of the garden project get underway this summer, a look toward the harvest is inevitable, with distribution of the fresh produce a key component. “You can do all of this and harvest, but people still have to come and get it,” Bowman said. That means providing fresh produce might require an adjustment in how the food is distributed. “If a pantry feeds the last Saturday of the month, it may mean feeding the first Saturday of the month if that is when the harvest comes,” Bowman said. After the food is harvested, the plan is to house it in New Life's Psalm 91 Shelter House until the pantries pick it up for their distribution. Pegram said his organization also plans to can some of the produce. “The key word is 'shelf-life' so we can get everybody through the winter time,” he said.
LEADERSHIP UNDETERRED
Parry said the biggest challenge was the overabundance of rain, but finally, at the end of May, the weather started to cooperate.
Pegram said that although harvesting crops will help fill in the gaps between current donations and current needs, "we're going to continue to knock on the doors we always have."
“You can't say enough about them to bring in all that equipment in six different intervals,” Pegram said.
In addition to high unemployment numbers, 54 percent of Highland
County students are enrolled in the schools' free or reduced-price lunch programs, and the local hunger rate is six-percent higher than the national average of 15 percent. Given those statistics, the relief that the harvest will provide can't come soon enough. “As long as we can get them in the ground and get them to grow, keep the grass and weeds out of it, we should have something for somebody to eat,” Gorman said. Whether the food is grown in these gardens or supplied by generous donors, those involved are determined to continue providing for their community. “We're going to talk to key people ... to rebuild or at least hold on until we can get to the other side,” Pegram said. “But we don't want to be in business forever.”
SPRINGS A
LORA ABERNATHY Lora is the Health and Wellness Editor for SALT Magazine and the Southwest Group Online Editor for Ohio Community Media. She resides in Hillsboro with her husband, Gary. Lora trains for and competes in triathlons and blogs about those experiences at www.theironmountaineer.blo gspot.com.