Community Action will provide $15 gardening vouchers

By Jim Gaines

Mar. 31, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Low-income earners and families can get a $15 voucher to help start a garden from Community Action of Southern Kentucky. The annual program starts Tuesday and is meant to provide materials for a vegetable garden, said Ereeka Brooks of Community Action.

The voucher can be used to get seeds, plants and fertilizer from Ace Hardware, she said.

Last year, only 20 people took advantage of the giveaway, Brooks said. She hopes more will do so this year.

"We get up to 66 vouchers," Brooks said.

Most of the people who participate have gardened before, and so already have tools, she said.

Anyone interested needs to show a Social Security card and provide income information for everyone in the household, such as check stubs, to show that their income is low enough to qualify, Brooks said.

"Any type of income verification we would be able to take," she said.

Those wanting vouchers can come to the Resource and Development Center at 171 Center St. between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Brooks said. She can be contacted at 782-4437 for information or to set up an appointment.

Though supplies are available, public garden space is harder to come by. For many years, the city has offered about 110 garden plots in Kereiakes Park, but those are all rented already this year, said Ernie Gouvas, city Parks and Recreation director.

The Housing Authority of Bowling Green has previously offered people space in a community garden near its headquarters on Double Springs Road, but didn't plan on doing so this year because no one signed up last spring, said Abraham Williams, housing authority executive director.

On hearing of Community Action's voucher program, however, he said the housing authority might open its garden again. Williams said he knew of several elderly residents who would welcome seeds and plants.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0033-24151894