STARKVILLE — By the spring, members of the Oktibbeha County Boys and Girls Club will be growing and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables.
Joyce Ellenwood, chief professional officer of the Boys and Girls Club, announced this week plans for an educational community garden to be located on portions of property owned by the club and Oktibbeha county.
The garden will begin with 2,500 square feet and will likely expand once additional programs are implemented with the club’s Healthy Habits program.
Ellenwood said the garden will teach students healthy eating and reinforce the nutritional value of fresh foods. Members also will learn gardening techniques from community members who participate in classes at the club on Lynn Lane.
“When I first got the job and started looking at the landscaping around the club, I saw an opportunity to beautify things,” Ellenwood said. “Then I met (co-organizer) Kathleen (Ragsdale), a gardener who had some great ideas. It all took off from there.”
Ragsdale, a social science professor at Mississippi State University, is a member of the Healthy Starkville Committee, which announced Wednesday the details of $25,000 in cash grants that will be awarded to community organizations that promote healthy lifestyles in Starkville. Ragsdale will help write the grant proposal for the Boys and Girls Club project.
Ragsdale, a lifelong gardener, also is connected with Heifer International, a nonprofit organization that gives out gifts of livestock, trees and seeds to help impoverished people sustain. She got the idea for the educational garden when introduced to Heifer International’s domestic initiatives for at-risk youth.
Ellenwood and Ragsdale partnered with MSU student Cary Lindsey, who worked on a similar project at MSU’s Aiken Village.
“I was introduced to gardening through my parents and grandfather,” Ragsdale said, “and I just love it. This is a great way to broaden the horizons for kids who’d never think of gardening.”
Ragsdale said additional details will be determined after funding is secure. However, she plans to begin with a “pizza garden” that will consist of herbs and vegetables for children to make pizza. A raised bed and compost area also will be incorporated.
“Fresh food over processed is part of our goal,” Ragsdale said.
The Boys and Girls Club hopes to secure one of two $5,000 grants from Healthy Starkville, but if they aren’t awarded a grant Ellenwood said the garden will still be constructed.
“We’re fairly confident that through proposals to other companies and local agencies, we still may be able to get financial support for the project,” Ellenwood said. “We’re confident that the buy-in would be strong, and if not, we’ll fall back on other financial resources, possibly some from our own budget. Things are looking very promising.”
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