“According to U.S. Census estimates for 2022, the median household income in Kentucky is $59,341, 21% lower than the U.S. median household income of $74,755. Kentucky also has higher percentages of overall and child poverty and food insecurity among its population compared to 2020 Census and Department of Agriculture estimates for the United States overall,” quoted from the Simpson County 2023 NEP Report.

The Nutrition Education Program approaches this challenge with efforts to provide hands-on nutrition education to limited-resource audiences. The Simpson Co. NEP Assistant and Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources contacted the Director of The Housing Authority of Franklin to propose a partnership to install a community garden at The Housing Authority for the Housing Authority residents to use. All residents of the housing authority meet the federal qualifications for low-income housing.  Additionally, many of the residents have limited transportation or physical disabilities which limit their ability to access locally grown fresh foods.  The Housing Authority Director issued a residential survey from which 11 families enrolled in the garden project. An informational meeting was conducted by the NEP Assistant with these families outlining that materials and some start-up labor would be provided by the Extension Service and that care and maintenance were the responsibility of the garden bed recipients.

The NEP Assistant and ANR agent expanded their partnership work by collaborating with their local Future Farmers of America Chapter to construct the raised beds.  In addition to the raised beds, a central area was tilled to accommodate extra produce to share.  

Soil, fertilizer, hand tools, straw, seedlings, hose, and a watering timer were purchased with funding from the Kentucky Nutrition Education Garden Fund grant. Residents filled the beds and planted seedlings including melons, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, zucchini, summer squash, and cooking herbs. The 11 families maintained their own raised beds as well as the tilled area, which provided the added benefit of physical activity during the growing season. Housing Authority Maintenance staff assisted as needed.   The ANR agent conducted periodic checks on the garden, instructing residents on pest identification and management, staking technique for tomatoes, plant disease awareness, and appropriate fertilizer application. 

At harvest, 2 demonstrations were led by the NEP Assistant, each attended by 10 participants, which focused on recipes featuring squash and tomatoes with nutritional benefits of vegetables discussed.  Participants also made their own salsa. A visually impaired senior gentleman was overjoyed to taste the dishes and take extra home for his dinner; he was assisted by another resident in the salsa making and stated he appreciated feeling included.  Attendees were offered recipe cards featuring the vegetables produced in their gardens. The bountiful harvest was shared with approximately 10 other non-gardening families from a donation box as overflow produce from the 11 families’ raised beds and tilled space.

Non-participating housing authority residents observed the beautiful gardens throughout the season.  Many have asked to sign up for next spring’s garden program. The Simpson County Extension Office plans to continue the partnership with the Housing Authority of Franklin to provide access to fresh vegetables in this low-income neighborhood.