Community Gardens Offer Free Food For Needy

January 9, 2013


Three community gardens are offering free turnip greens to anyone in need that is willing to pick their own.

One of the three gardens is full of turnips that are now ready to be picked; it’s located on Main Street  in McDavid just west of the McDavid United Methodist Church and the post office. Anyone is welcome to stop by and pick what they need.

A garden in Bratt will be ready for picking in about two weeks, and a third turnip patch in Walnut Hill be ready in about six weeks. Those locations will be announced here on NorthEscambia.com when the turnips are ready.

The gardens are a joint project of the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, the McDavid United Methodist Church, the Northview High School FFA and the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA.

“We wanted to do something for the community,” said Perry Byars, Ruritan member and Northview FFA sonsor. “The idea was to help make sure nobody goes hungry.”

Pictured: Free turnips for those in need can be picked from this garden on Main Street in McDavid, near the McDavid United Methodist Church. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Community Gardens Offer Free Food For Needy”

  1. David Huie Green on January 12th, 2013 11:02 am

    turnips are good.

    Life is good

    Life is even gooder with turnips

    David for the good life

  2. Oak Grove resident on January 11th, 2013 6:57 pm

    May God bless those who contributed to this gift. That’s what is wrong with the country now. Too many greedy people and not enough with hearts for their fellow man as these people. Proud to know there are some people left like this in our community. I just hope those who need it will take advantage of it. I know if I needed it I would be out there picking now. If you don’t have any needy people that want to pick this generous gift, just let us know. We will be glad to pick and pay for them.

  3. 429SCJ on January 9th, 2013 10:43 pm

    Good people thinking of others in need. Thats what the Lord expects of us.

  4. patti on January 9th, 2013 4:29 pm

    I’m so proud of these folks donating their land, time and effort in planting such for those who need help. I just hope that the folks will harvest this turnip patch and let those whose time was involved know how much they’re appreciated. Years ago we planted a large garden (beans, peas, okra, peppers) and, and invited some folks to come & pick. Guess what? The produce was wanted, but they wanted it picked , because they didn’t have time. Hey! It was free! When my family was young, ages 3 to 15, I would drive to Summerdale to pick peas, butter beans, corn and tomatoes to put up for later use. I had to pay for these vegs., but it was worth it for my family. We never used processed food from the store. My children were healthy and hardly ever sick. The farmer I bought my vegs. from is no longer living, but he was a god send in my time of need. I picked, got a bargain, it was work, BUT WORTH every dime and time!!

  5. Rebekah Nicole Carlson on January 9th, 2013 2:40 pm

    This is great – in a perfect world, food stamps wouldn’t be needed and people could pick their own veggies and hunt their own game if they truly needed to feed their families. Thanks to everyone involved for donating their time, seeds, and property to help feed others.

  6. Jacob on January 9th, 2013 9:40 am

    This is Great Stuff and a wonderful project for both FFA chapters. This is where I think 4-H can step up and fill in the gap of the younger children. We need to catch the attention of the younger kids prior to them getting in middle and high school so when they do they will already be accustomed to the agriculture life and will fall right into the FFA chapters and become great leaders.

    Great Job to everyone that is involved in this project

  7. William on January 9th, 2013 8:16 am

    >>> Did FFA change its name? I thought it was Future Farmers of America, but now I hear it being called Food for America.

    The name of the Future Farmers of America was changed to just FFA in 1988.

    Food for America is one day program Northview’s FFA does every spring where elementary kids visit the campus to learn more about where their food originates. The NHS FFA’s Food for America program is the number one such program in the state.

  8. William on January 9th, 2013 8:13 am

    >>I think some children should be involved in a project like this

    They are…sponsors of the project include the Northview High School FFA and the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA.

  9. Lisa Fuller on January 9th, 2013 8:12 am

    Jane, you are absolutely right. Did FFA change its name? I thought it was Future Farmers of America, but now I hear it being called Food for America. Either way, it’s a great program where students learn about food and farm production and food distribution. I’m pretty sure Northview’s program won a state award recently.

  10. Jane on January 9th, 2013 6:06 am

    Wonderful idea. I think some children should be involved in a project like this…to teach them what a great feeling it is to be able to feed people.

  11. just tired on January 9th, 2013 1:12 am

    It is always a blessing to see people offering a helping hand to those who are in need. This is something that has been done in the Century community for years by Deacon Alfonzie Cottrell. Bless you all.