In Jewett, Texas — about 60 miles east of Waco — you’ll find an acreage called the NRG Dewey Prairie Garden. While the garden has yielded about 10,000 pounds of produce for six food pantries since it began harvesting in April 2022, the land hasn’t always been this fruitful.
In fact, it used to be part of a coal mine that fueled an NRG-run 1,688-megawatt power plant.
The Dewey Prairie Garden is part of a massive effort to restore a 35,000-acre coal mine, parts of which still stretch into the town of Jewett — a town the United States Department of Agriculture and Feeding America call a food desert.
Many residents live over 10 miles from the nearest grocery store, and food insecurity rates are 51% higher than the national average.
The garden is managed by nonprofit Texan by Nature and supplies healthy, fresh produce for an estimated 3,000 people in the area every year.
Fresh produce is harvested for area food banks. Photo courtesy of Texan By Nature/Facebook
“You wouldn’t think that this could happen,” Debbie Glaze, a lead gardener on the project, told The Texas Tribune. “I think it’s amazing that the ground is actually growing all these vegetables after all that mine digging.”
With plans to expand the garden another nine acres, even more nearby residents can look forward to “shopping” free produce from their local food pantries.
“Most of our clients are unable to regularly buy fresh fruits and vegetables, due to the cost,” Kathleen Buchanan of The Lord’s Pantry of Leon County, told Texan By Nature. “The garden will be a true blessing for all of us.”
The garden also provides healthier alternatives for area residents.
“This project … will be one that impacts not just our clients but families across a three-county area. Statistics show that Leon, Limestone, and Freestone Counties are three of the least healthy counties in the state, with high obesity and diabetes numbers,” Kristy Vandegriff of Leon Community Food Pantry and Clothes Closet said.
“Being able to offer fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis will help our clients make choices for better health.”
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A version of this article was originally published in The 2024 Plants Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image courtesy of Texan By Nature
