By Blake Jackson
Hunger and lack of reliable access to fresh food are big challenges for families in Barry County in southwestern Missouri.
The community ranked these issues at the top of a needs assessment by the University of Missouri Extension Council in Barry County. Those results spurred the council to develop the Barry County Community Garden Project in Cassville, a community-wide plan to improve food access and support the local food pantry.
This year, the Barry County Extension Council has helped 12 families establish 34 garden plots. The council has coordinated with organizations and businesses, including MU Extension and Master Gardeners, to deliver nutrition and gardening classes and environmentally sustainable practices to the whole community.
For its work, Barry County was named the winner of the inaugural MU Extension County Council of the Year award.
“The MU Extension Council in Barry County’s work embodied the central role councils have in identifying local opportunities and challenges around agriculture, economic opportunity, education and health; engaging local communities and representative voices; connecting MU Extension with local partners; and supporting initiatives that create measurable, lasting impact,” said Chad Higgins, MU interim vice chancellor for extension and engagement.
After the county-wide needs assessment and the decision to develop a community garden project in the county seat of Cassville, the Barry County council looked to the Shell Knob Victory Garden as a model. “We also had to identify the barriers and how, as a community, we could overcome those,” said council member Lainey Harvick.
“Our council did a really good job of keeping things moving forward and making sure there wasn’t anything in the way. If there were any barriers, people worked together to move them back,” Harvick said. “We really wanted to build partnerships and relationships and have the community completely involved in this project.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jimfeng
Categories: Missouri, Education