Author: Sarah Fannin
Planning Unit: Morgan County CES
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
Plan of Work: Growing Local Foods and Local Leaders
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Parts of Morgan County are designated as a “food desert” area by the USDA meaning that residents do not have adequate access to fresh vegetables due to distance, lack of land or income. As part of the Morgan County Extension Demonstration Farm, land was designated for use as a community garden to help remove these barriers. The garden is fenced, cultivated and supplied with water at no cost to participants. Priority is given to senior citizens, low income, differently abled and those without land.Gardening education is provided as well via the 2018 Fruit and Vegetable Academy – a monthly series featuring various growing topics. As a result of this endeavor, each of the eight participating gardeners report increased access to fresh vegetables, reduced food costs and increase in activity level. Mostly older single women, these growers have expressed their appreciation to be able to return to gardening as a means of supplying food for their families, supplementing income and getting to work in something they enjoy.
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