Healthy living continues to be a point of emphasis by organizations in Carter County.
To expand the efforts, Carter County Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Daniel Grindstaff presented a check for $1,500 to Carter County Community Advisory Board members Thursday morning to help with agricultural projects by the board, including the community gardens.
“The community gardens last year were a great success,” Grindstaff said. “With that success and the continued projects on tap for 2017, (Farm Bureau) was more than willing to donate funds to help these type of projects.”
Community gardens went into effect in 2016 after an effort was formed by the CAB. There are currently four gardens throughout the county, including the public library, the Elizabethton Senior Center, the Elizabethton Housing and Development Agency and one nestled behind Village Pediatrics and Breastfeeding Medicine. The success of the program allowed the CAB to sure up 15 spots for the “Backyard Gardens” program offered by Build It Up East Tennessee. Throughout the season, community members use the gardens to plant and nurture crops to be later used for consumption.
The ability to assist with agricultural initiatives is a point of significance for the business, Grindstaff added.
“Farm Bureau strongly supports agriculture on a state level and especially on a local level,” Grindstaff said. “The local level is backed by the Carter County Farm Bureau office. Each county has a Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and board of directors supports agriculture at the local level.”
Multiple organizations make up the advisory council, and Grindstaff credited their work in making these dreams become a reality.
“It is such a huge benefit,” he said about the board’s work. “It seems like the last several years the knowledge of how to do those things has escaped the community. It’s great to have a group of people, like the CAB, making these things happen. It is such an ideal thing for us to support. They’re working to get grants and funding … it takes community donations to make projects like these possible, and Farm Bureau loves to help where they can.”
Another project on the horizon includes the Downtown Elizabethton Farmer’s Market, which started as an idea by the CAB. Recently receiving the OK from City Council, the market will begin servicing the community May 2 and last every Tuesday until October 31. The market will operate from 4 to 8 p.m. and be located on East F Street near First Christian Church.
“It’s an incredible thing,” Grindstaff said. “Having the market on Tuesdays allows people to come in and not compete with other markets and allow farmers another day to sell products. Having the chance to have our local farmers sell their products, provide information of agriculture, healthy living and have it in downtown is something we needed and these groups came together to make it a reality.”