Jackson Free Press

[verbatim] The Jackson Inner-city Gardeners (JIG) invites volunteers and youth to join in the fun of planting Jackson's first community garden, where seasonal, organic, vegetables will be grown and sold at affordable prices, and youth will be taught valuable life skills.

JIG is a newly-formed non-profit organization that will focus on promoting healthy lifestyles, people and communities. Proceeds will be used to promote activities for youth, families and communities, as we teach fundamental concepts of gardening and the science of agriculture. The community garden will be the center of educational activities to teach youth employment skills, good character, and awareness of agricultural careers.

"We're excited about pioneering a community garden like this one. It is a great, fun way for people from all walks of life to be part of something that will make a difference in their lives and others," said Detrater (Tre') Roberts, a native of Mississippi and founder of JIG.

JIG has scheduled its first two Saturday workdays in the garden on April 18, 9am – 12:30pm and April 25, 9:30am – 2:00pm. On April 18, JIG will be part of a health fair at the Jackson Medical Mall and will provide a fun garden project for some Brinkley Elementary School students. On April 25, a local church will give a day of service by donating man hours to set up raised beds in the community garden.

Volunteers will work in the garden, planting and harvesting seasonal, organically-grown, vegetables in a field garden and in raised garden beds on a one-fourth acre lot. The Jackson Medical Mall Foundation is providing the lot on the corner of Livingston and Melvin Bender Street, adjacent to the medical mall.

JIG already has recruited a few organizations and volunteers, some who are responding to a JIG ad in the volunteer section at http://www.craigslist.org

JIG welcomes families, seniors, youth groups, churches, service organizations and all other interested persons to join us in the garden, make monetary contributions or donate materials, such as, crossties, soil, mulch and seeds.

"If you desire to give to the community and become part of an organization that is promoting self-respect, character-building, family and community, then come JIG with us," said Roberts.

For more information about JIG, please contact Farmer Tre' Roberts at 601-924-3539 or [e-mail missing]

Previous Comments

ID

145681

Comment

This is great! I can't wait for the produce to arrive and, at the same time, help a good cause.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-04-08T07:49:32-06:00