Jackson Free Press

In 2008 Mariquita Lewis moved to Richland from Jackson to take care of her mother after she had a stroke. Her concern for her mother's health, as well as the organic movement she saw in Minneapolis as a college student inspired her to start an urban garden.

"I wanted to make sure my mother had fresh, organic fruits and vegetables after she had a stroke," Lewis said. "I decided the best way to do it was to grow it myself."

Lewis began by doing container gardening--growing plants in pots, jugs and other small containers--then decided she wanted to move to something bigger. She moved the garden out of her home and onto a larger plot of land in Richland and put the plants into garden boxes.

Last year, Lewis named her independently maintained urban garden M&M Produce and applied to have the name registered by the city. Lewis still primarily uses the garden to provide her mother and herself with organic produce.

Lewis also works as a consultant for The Nature Conservancy, a large non profit organization that preserves water, air and land for future generations. Lewis helped create a diversity outreach program to teach urban and minority communities about conservation and sustainable agriculture. She also worked with the National Women in Agriculture Association for two years as a marketing and public relations consultant.

Lewis attended Florence High School and later received a degree in film from Minneapolis College. She also received a degree in communications and public relations from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.

The Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts recently recognized Lewis with the Friend of Conservation Award. Lewis received the recognition for making advancements in urban gardening, rainwater collecting and composting. Independant Survival Living, an organization that is dedicated to urban gardening and sustainability and also helps teach the elderly and disabled to garden for themselves, nominated Lewis for the award.

"I am elated about the award," Lewis said. "It feels good to have someone recognize work you are doing quietly."