Fresh Start Christian Church in Jackson is addressing food insecurity by running a community garden that offers free fruits and vegetables to local families while teaching them gardening skills. “You could actually take this pepper and if you’re not afraid of it, clean it off a bit and eat it,” said Pastor James L. Henley Jr. of Fresh Start Baptist Church as he took a bite of a small green pepper. Volunteers at the church spend each week digging in the soil to grow food that helps feed Mississippians.”We have a lot of different stuff, hibiscus, a lemon tree we just planted that might take a year or two, and even sugar cane,” Henley said. The garden also produces okra, squash, zucchini, and greens, all free to anyone who needs them.Established in March, the community garden has become a way to fight hunger in Jackson. Tobias Cooper from the nonprofit Great River Elders Community Gardens highlighted the issue of food deserts in Jackson, noting, “There’s a huge gap between how many grocery stores is in the area versus fast food restaurants and convenience stores.” His group partnered with the church to combat this issue and assist families facing uncertainty with their SNAP benefits.”When people started losing their SNAP benefits, we created this nonprofit to solve problems like that,” Cooper explained. What were once empty swimming pools have now been transformed into fertile ground, producing food and hope.”Our mission is to make Christ visible,” Pastor Henley said. “And what better way to make Him visible than by feeding people?”This is the second time Fresh Start has offered a community garden, as the original was ended during COVID. Organizers of the community garden say they are always looking for volunteers to help take care of the garden.
JACKSON, Miss. —
Fresh Start Christian Church in Jackson is addressing food insecurity by running a community garden that offers free fruits and vegetables to local families while teaching them gardening skills.
“You could actually take this pepper and if you’re not afraid of it, clean it off a bit and eat it,” said Pastor James L. Henley Jr. of Fresh Start Baptist Church as he took a bite of a small green pepper.
Volunteers at the church spend each week digging in the soil to grow food that helps feed Mississippians.
“We have a lot of different stuff, hibiscus, a lemon tree we just planted that might take a year or two, and even sugar cane,” Henley said.
The garden also produces okra, squash, zucchini, and greens, all free to anyone who needs them.
Established in March, the community garden has become a way to fight hunger in Jackson. Tobias Cooper from the nonprofit Great River Elders Community Gardens highlighted the issue of food deserts in Jackson, noting, “There’s a huge gap between how many grocery stores is in the area versus fast food restaurants and convenience stores.”
His group partnered with the church to combat this issue and assist families facing uncertainty with their SNAP benefits.
“When people started losing their SNAP benefits, we created this nonprofit to solve problems like that,” Cooper explained. What were once empty swimming pools have now been transformed into fertile ground, producing food and hope.
“Our mission is to make Christ visible,” Pastor Henley said. “And what better way to make Him visible than by feeding people?”
This is the second time Fresh Start has offered a community garden, as the original was ended during COVID. Organizers of the community garden say they are always looking for volunteers to help take care of the garden.
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