Itta Bena’s communitywide effort to provide fresh produce to its residents has received a top-notch ranking in the Delta.
The community garden headed by Samuel Chapel United Methodist Church recently took home first prize in the 2013 Growing Together Network and Contest sponsored by Delta Health Alliance. They received $1,000 and an additional $400 gift card for attending all of the workshops.
“They had the best participation, and they had a lot of information to show us about what they did with their garden and what they learned from the workshops,” said Leslie Johnson, the Growing Together Network project manager. “They really did deserve this award.”
Delta Health Alliance, which is based in Stoneville, supplies communities in the Delta access to educational services and community outreach programs to increase quality of health in the area.
One of the organization’s projects is community gardens. Since not all Delta communities have grocery stores and not all people have transportation, community gardens help keep fruits and vegetables an option. Itta Bena faced a similar problem when it lost its only grocery store in 2009. With a grant from Delta Health Alliance and land donated from a member of Samuel Chapel, the community garden soon began to sprout.
The organization offers five workshops on gardening during the summer at different locations in the Delta. Contestants are judged on workshop participation, community awareness and involvement, youth participation, maintenance and sustainable growing practices, variety of produce and suitability of the plantings. Design and total visual effect are also taken into account with extra points awarded for creativity and ingenuity.
Last year, the Samuel Chapel garden placed third in the contest.
John Upton and Henry Fant, both members of Samuel Chapel, are lead gardeners, and Robert Barner, a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, is the master gardener.
The gardeners recently attended an awards ceremony and pot-luck celebration at Chapel Hill Baptist Church in Clarksdale, where they were recognized for their work. The funds received will go toward continuing the garden.
The community garden in Itta Bena is located on Miller Road and composed of two large plots.
For more information about the Growing Together Network, email Johnson at ljohnson@deltahealthalliance.org.
- Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
