Episcopal Press and News

Church-Sponsored Green Thumb Program Does Something About Hunger

Diocesan Press Service. August 4, 1975 [75271]

Grace Holt, St. Stephen's, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

FOLEY HILL, Tenn. -- Hattie Maggard's family of Foley Hill, in Tennessee's rural Anderson County, will eat this year -- thanks to her own efforts and the Green Thumb Program.

Hers is one of 750 County families with sub-poverty incomes who have been enabled to grow their own food this summer through Green Thumb help and encouragement.

Mrs. Maggard, 66 years old and a widow, cares for three young grandchildren. No longer able to work at a paying job, she's proud to be able to produce a major share of her family's food in her hillside garden. "What a difference this makes! " she says. "Now I know where the next meal's coming from."

Her meagre income, her willingness to work the garden, and her access to a plot of land qualified Mrs. Maggard for Green Thumb help. It came in the forms of plowing, seeds, small plants, seed potatoes, fertilizer, instructions, advice, easy access to pressure canning equipment and supplies -- and personal encouragement.

Six years ago the Green Thumb Program began as the dream of Lloyd Hileman, Anderson County Community Action Agent. It took form when the people of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Oak Ridge, risked $200 for seed so that 20 needy families could start vegetable gardens.

Word spread quickly about the success of the first year's gardens. The next year, major financial support came from Lenten self-denial offerings of Episcopalians throughout the area, via their planning commission; the number of gardens grew to 150. This support has continued and been expanded by grants from other area churches as well as from the United Fund, plus occasional government aid for special facets of the work.

The recent acquisition of modern community canning equipment, centrally located and available to all Green Thumb gardeners, has greatly increased the program's fruitfulness. Now, families can preserve -- safely -- enough produce to see them through the non-growing seasons.

No more than two or three Green Thumb families a year have failed to make their gardens, a fact that demonstrates the value people place upon their own participation. This year's 750 gardens form a major food source for nearly 3,000 people, not only raising their nutrition level but also giving them the new hope that comes with being able to help themselves.