COMMUNITY GARDEN GRANT — Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District Conservation Technician Jake Hess (left), Prater Supervisor David Rose (middle) and Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District Board Member Bobby Looney (right) display a $1,000 Keep America Beautiful Green Grant check at the future site of the community garden at Southern Gap. The grant will fund the construction of the garden’s first raised planting beds, with plans to expand the project in the coming years.
By CHAD COOPER
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Residents will soon have a new opportunity to grow fresh produce close to home as a community garden takes root at Southern Gap, thanks to a $1,000 grant awarded to the Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District.
The district received a Keep America Beautiful Green Grant after submitting a funding application. Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation Education Specialist and District Manager Jeanne Presley said the organization was notified in early June that the application had been approved, and that the grant check arrived last week.
Construction on the first raised garden beds is expected to begin immediately.
“We applied for the Keep America Beautiful green grant to begin the community garden. We were notified that our application was approved around the first of June. We received the check last week and intend to start building the garden boxes this week. We will be planting some initial crops when the boxes are complete,” Presley said.
The project will initially include nine raised garden boxes, with plans for significant future expansion. Presley said organizers hope the garden becomes a community resource where residents can grow their own vegetables and create educational opportunities for local children.
“Next year we hope to have residents reserve the boxes and plant their own little garden. It is also a goal to grow a pumpkin patch so that students can pick a pumpkin without having to travel to Tazewell County. If anyone is interested in reserving a box for next year, they can contact our office, and we will add them to the list. We have already had a great response from Buchanan County residents to the use of the boxes. My goal is to expand the gardens as large as possible,” Presley said.
Big Sandy Soil and Water District board member Bobby Looney praised the collaborative effort that made the project possible.
“Another big win for Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District and Buchanan County,” Looney said. “Thanks for your help, David Rose, Prater Supervisor, on the community garden grant coming soon to Popular Gap Park.”
Presley said the first phase of the project will focus on establishing the initial raised beds before expanding in future years.
“We are going to begin with the boxes we are building. I believe we will have nine boxes to begin with,” Presley said. “Then we are hoping to expand next year to additional boxes. If anyone would like to reserve a box, they can contact our office at 276-935-7750.”
Organizers encourage anyone interested in reserving a garden box for the 2027 growing season to contact the Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District office at 276-935-7750. A waiting list is already being established due to strong community interest.
