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Kathy Smith is reaping the tasty rewards of getting her hands dirty.
Smith is growing produce for herself and other disadvantaged people at the Monroe County Community Garden in Paris.
It’s a project of garden experts Ron and Martha Staggs and the non-profit North East Community Action Corporation, and is part of a renewed emphasis on growing produce locally.
“I thought a community effort was a nice idea,” Smith said. “It’s definitely good for kids to come out and play in the dirt and learn how things grow.”
“We are excited,” said Martha Staggs. “It’s just fun to grow stuff and it’s fun to see people eating it.”
Funding for the half-acre garden at the Monroe County Fairgrounds and two others in Lincoln and Warren counties came from a $60,000 federal grant awarded to NECAC.
Income-qualifying participants will learn how to plant their own food, save money on grocery bills and provide nutritious meals for their families.
“It’s going very well,” said NECAC Intake Assistant Diane Baker.
Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, corn, green beans, squash, melons, sweet potatoes, peppers and spices have been planted.
Everything is organic, right down to the composted horse manure that’s used to encourage growth.
“It’s the best stuff in the world, so you don’t need fertilizer,” Staggs said.
The first harvest of lettuce and onions was donated to the Paris Food Pantry, which serves more than 100 clients a month. The pantry and program participants will split future crops.
“This is wonderful,” said the pantry’s Deborah Long. “It’ll feed people that don’t normally have the money to buy produce.”
Siblings and NECAC clients John and Anna Stahlschmidt had gardened before, but only for themselves.
“We just want to help out,” John said. “They gave a lot to us. We want to give something back.”
“We’re giving to needy people and people who would need it more than we would,” Anna added.
During World War II, an estimated 40 percent of the produce Americans consumed came from 20 million local gardens. Over the years, however, many people got away from planting seeds.
The recent economic downturn forced many to pick up a hoe again. A quest for better nutrition also has led to the opening of restaurants that use locally-grown products, such as ThymeSquare Café at Fifth and Hampshire in Quincy, Ill.
Participants in the NECAC project pay a $20 fee to help cover the cost of equipment and water. They also get instructions on cooking and canning produce. The program has been incorporated with NECAC's healthy lifestyle classes.
“We have a lot of work to do, but we’re getting there,” Staggs said.
Anna Stahlschmidt has found at least one drawback.
“Getting your knees dirty,” she said as she pulled weeds. “Usually I don’t care, but these are new clothes.”
“There’s nothing really bad about it,” said her brother.
Besides, he added, a little dirt “never hurt anybody.”
Kathy Smith is reaping the tasty rewards of getting her hands dirty.
Smith is growing produce for herself and other disadvantaged people at the Monroe County Community Garden in Paris.
It’s a project of garden experts Ron and Martha Staggs and the non-profit North East Community Action Corporation, and is part of a renewed emphasis on growing produce locally.
“I thought a community effort was a nice idea,” Smith said. “It’s definitely good for kids to come out and play in the dirt and learn how things grow.”
“We are excited,” said Martha Staggs. “It’s just fun to grow stuff and it’s fun to see people eating it.”
Funding for the half-acre garden at the Monroe County Fairgrounds and two others in Lincoln and Warren counties came from a $60,000 federal grant awarded to NECAC.
Income-qualifying participants will learn how to plant their own food, save money on grocery bills and provide nutritious meals for their families.
“It’s going very well,” said NECAC Intake Assistant Diane Baker.
Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, corn, green beans, squash, melons, sweet potatoes, peppers and spices have been planted.
Everything is organic, right down to the composted horse manure that’s used to encourage growth.
“It’s the best stuff in the world, so you don’t need fertilizer,” Staggs said.
The first harvest of lettuce and onions was donated to the Paris Food Pantry, which serves more than 100 clients a month. The pantry and program participants will split future crops.
“This is wonderful,” said the pantry’s Deborah Long. “It’ll feed people that don’t normally have the money to buy produce.”
Siblings and NECAC clients John and Anna Stahlschmidt had gardened before, but only for themselves.
“We just want to help out,” John said. “They gave a lot to us. We want to give something back.”
“We’re giving to needy people and people who would need it more than we would,” Anna added.
During World War II, an estimated 40 percent of the produce Americans consumed came from 20 million local gardens. Over the years, however, many people got away from planting seeds.
The recent economic downturn forced many to pick up a hoe again. A quest for better nutrition also has led to the opening of restaurants that use locally-grown products, such as ThymeSquare Café at Fifth and Hampshire in Quincy, Ill.
Participants in the NECAC project pay a $20 fee to help cover the cost of equipment and water. They also get instructions on cooking and canning produce. The program has been incorporated with NECAC's healthy lifestyle classes.
“We have a lot of work to do, but we’re getting there,” Staggs said.
Anna Stahlschmidt has found at least one drawback.
“Getting your knees dirty,” she said as she pulled weeds. “Usually I don’t care, but these are new clothes.”
“There’s nothing really bad about it,” said her brother.
Besides, he added, a little dirt “never hurt anybody.”
