Help Build Newtown's Community Garden |
Got a green thumb or just like digging in the dirt? We've got the perfect project for you! Legacy Heritage needs your help with our children's community garden in Newtown, one of the hardest hit food deserts in the city of Montgomery. Bricks, mortar, pots, dirt and seeds have all been donated, so YOUR HELPING HANDS are all that are needed. Brick experience needed. Work days are scheduled for July 14 through July 18 9am - noon. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. PLEASE MEET AT THE NEWTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT AT 9AM EACH DAY AND FOLLOW TO THE SITE ON WITHERS ST. |
Food security gardens are critically needed in the food deserts located in impoverished African American communities of District 3 in Montgomery Alabama. The long neglected and disparaged African American communities of female, senior citizen and non-family led households not receiving SNAP benefits, living at or below the poverty line in the Historical Communities of Newtown, Houston Hill and King Hill live in a constant state of habitually faltering fresh food options that have been exacerbated by the trauma left behind from Covid-19.
Conditions and Characteristics of the Households Affected by Food Insecurity
According to the Food for Every Child Report on the need for healthy food financing in Alabama, households that lack access to affordable and nutritious food:
The Newtown Redevelopment Community Garden and its proposed outcomes will address the goal of the UAIP in supporting the development of urban agriculture and innovative production by meeting the food needs of low-income individuals in the historical communities of Newtown, Houston Hill and King Hill through community gardening outreach programs that will improve access to nutritious food as part of a comprehensive service. In furtherance of this mission, Legacy Heritage directs its efforts, energies, and resources towards educational and community developmental programming and related research projects for at risk African American and Latino residents and their families in district 3. The implementation of community food security gardens in the food deserts located in many underserved and impoverished minority communities in district 3, with a special focus on long neglected communities like Newtown, Houston Hill and King Hill will help participants develop a working knowledge of medical, therapeutic, and recreational gardening. The introduction of researched pathogen protected meeting components will reduce the spread of all airborne pathogens while gathering.
The Newtown Redevelopment Community Garden will empower the community with a self-sustained plan for supplementing their food supply of healthy food long term. The garden will serve as a catalyst for strengthening the presence of medical, therapeutic, and recreational gardening, while creating an individually adaptable, self-sustaining, pathogen protected food plan in the community. The Newtown Redevelopment Community Garden and its proposed outcomes will also increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs. Our planting program invites participating beginning and avid gardeners to plant, cultivate and harvest their own lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Gardening instruction is provided to ensure a successful harvest. Excess food is organized in a farmer’s market where citizens outside the targeted communities can purchase food and the proceeds will be reinvested in next year’s seeds, supplies, class materials, staff salaries and program evaluations.
The Newtown Community Garden will Improve the landscape of Newtown in the following ways.
Conditions and Characteristics of the Households Affected by Food Insecurity
According to the Food for Every Child Report on the need for healthy food financing in Alabama, households that lack access to affordable and nutritious food:
- Negatively Impacted Health o 17% of African Americans with an income of 25,000 or less have diabetes in Montgomery Alabama, the diagnosis factors vary but are mainly centered around nutritional deficiencies.
- Are embarrassed to seek help from food pantries and donation centers
- Have difficulties navigating the finances and travel involved in procuring components of a healthy diet
- Fail in basic gardening knowledge to self-supplement
- Have been denied public food assistance due to the edge of the poverty line
- Are deeply negatively impacted by food insecurity
- Are in critical need of an adult mentor who can help develop self-sustainable gardening skills.
The Newtown Redevelopment Community Garden and its proposed outcomes will address the goal of the UAIP in supporting the development of urban agriculture and innovative production by meeting the food needs of low-income individuals in the historical communities of Newtown, Houston Hill and King Hill through community gardening outreach programs that will improve access to nutritious food as part of a comprehensive service. In furtherance of this mission, Legacy Heritage directs its efforts, energies, and resources towards educational and community developmental programming and related research projects for at risk African American and Latino residents and their families in district 3. The implementation of community food security gardens in the food deserts located in many underserved and impoverished minority communities in district 3, with a special focus on long neglected communities like Newtown, Houston Hill and King Hill will help participants develop a working knowledge of medical, therapeutic, and recreational gardening. The introduction of researched pathogen protected meeting components will reduce the spread of all airborne pathogens while gathering.
The Newtown Redevelopment Community Garden will empower the community with a self-sustained plan for supplementing their food supply of healthy food long term. The garden will serve as a catalyst for strengthening the presence of medical, therapeutic, and recreational gardening, while creating an individually adaptable, self-sustaining, pathogen protected food plan in the community. The Newtown Redevelopment Community Garden and its proposed outcomes will also increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs. Our planting program invites participating beginning and avid gardeners to plant, cultivate and harvest their own lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Gardening instruction is provided to ensure a successful harvest. Excess food is organized in a farmer’s market where citizens outside the targeted communities can purchase food and the proceeds will be reinvested in next year’s seeds, supplies, class materials, staff salaries and program evaluations.
The Newtown Community Garden will Improve the landscape of Newtown in the following ways.
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Increase the availability of nutritional foods
Reduce environmental hazards Reduce food miles Create a sustainable system. Reduce food transportation cost Reduce water runoff |
Reduce bad health consequences of a diet poor in fresh fruits and vegetables
Create social ties and build a community feeling Reduce crime Empower gardening participants Create Secure Neighborhoods |
Garden Locations
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HALE STREET
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WITHERS STREET
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Construction has begun on all locations. We are in desperate need of volunteers with experience in brick laying, farming, community organizing and youth advocacy. Work is done when we have volunteers to help us mow lawns, clear brush, etc. We are praying to have our beds erected by October. Be the change you want to see in Newtown. We have been blessed with donations from the following vendors....
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