Gail Lawrence (Temple Emanu-El’s garden), Louise Elam and Ron Candler (LHCG), Kathy Stewart D10 Councilmember, Philip Elam, A.L. Nickerson and Linda Nickerson (LHCG)
Texas Future Farmers of America hosted their annual convention in Dallas last week, and they capped it off with a service project. They put out a call to collect seeds for the Lake Highlands Community Garden, and by Friday FFA members had donated 30 boxes of seed packets and seed starting trays.
Volunteers at LHCG intend to share the wealth, distributing seeds to other community gardens around town — especially those which support local food banks. But first, there’s the task of sorting through all the donated boxes. The folks at the Temple Emanu-El garden have graciously invited the crew to use their air-conditioned storage facility for the job.
“I have contacted many other gardens today, and they all want seeds,” said A.L. Nickerson, one of LHCG’s founders. “It appears that nothing will go to waste. We just have a monumental task to try to provide a varied array of vegetables to each group.”
Nickerson explained that community gardeners pay for the use of the land, buy their own seeds and plants, personally care for their crops and agree to donate a portion of what they grow to people in need. Almost 5,000 pounds of produce was donated last year to local food banks including Feed Lake Highlands, Vickery Meadow Food Pantry, Episcopal Church of the Ascension, St. Vincent de Paul and Network of Community Ministries.
“Our District 10 city councilmembers have been very supportive and helpful with our garden, but I think some other Dallas officials have greatly underestimated the vital role that community gardeners play in providing fresh produce to area food pantries,” he said. “There is no expectation of any financial reward or any individual recognition. It is just our way for a person to try to help a friend or neighbor in need.”
The Lake Highlands Community Garden is located behind the Northeast Code Compliance Office, 7901 Goforth. You may follow them on social media here.
Texas FFA volunteers collect seed donations at their Dallas convention.
