Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Boone Service League Awards Grant to W.A.M.Y.’s Gardening Project Grant Money Will Create Additional Vouchers at Community Garden

Story by Allison Peacock

The Boone Service League recently granted W.A.M.Y. Community Action $1,000 to boost its current gardening program. W.A.M.Y. operates in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties and is a High Country United Way partner agency.

The Leola Street Community Garden in Boone, entering its second year, gives away 20 vouchers in the spring to those who apply and meet the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ poverty guidelines. Recipients use the vouchers to purchase materials such as seeds, plants and canning and freezing supplies. The Boone Service League grant will allow W.A.M.Y. to create five additional vouchers to be used in conjunction with the Leola Street Garden.

The goal of the voucher program is to help participants learn how to become financially self-sufficient in the areas of nutrition and overall wellness. During the 2004-05 fiscal year, the average return on investment for each voucher was $552.88.

“Through this new project, we hope to not only encourage healthier lifestyles, but also promote an increased sense of community and stewardship of the land,” said Lisa Redman, W.A.M.Y. Program Development Specialist.

Each recipient will not only receive a $50 voucher to purchase organic gardening supplies at Southern States, but will also receive a plot in the Leola Street Community Garden for the 2007 growing season, sufficient organic matter to build up their plot and a gift bucket filled with all kinds of gardening supplies.

After receiving their vouchers, recipients can begin working on their plots after the gardening orientation facilitated by Matt Cooper, the director of the Leola Street Garden. Orientation will be held Saturday, May 19, and the community is invited to this event to learn more about the garden as well.

“A hope that we have is that as this project gains popularity in the near future, community gardeners will be able to sell their crops at the Watauga County Farmers’ Market in a booth exclusive to those using the Leola Street Community Garden…This would also help improve Boone’s local economy,” said Cooper.

Leola Street gardening voucher packages will be available Wednesday, April 25, and individuals and families interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible because of the limited number of slots. For more information or to apply, contact Colleen Bare at W.A.M.Y. Community Action at 828-264-2421.

Other organizations, businesses or individuals who would like to make a contribution can send checks made out to W.A.M.Y. Community Action, Inc. to P.O. Box 2688, Boone, NC 28607. Note that you would like your contribution to be used for the Leola Street Garden Project. Monetary contributions, as well as donations of time or resources, are greatly welcomed and appreciated!