In the News
Farmers market hosted by Blackburn Middle School in partnership with JSU
May 17, 2024
Farmers market hosted by Blackburn Middle School in partnership with JSU
Kennedi Cooper, WAPT Channel 16 News
May 17, 2024
The 2024 Farmers Market, hosted by Blackburn Middle School in partnership with Jackson State University, is now open.
Students sell fruits and vegetables to members of the community from their student-led garden. The kids planted seeds of many kinds during the fall like carrots, cabbage, bananas, peppers and more. It's been a long process and now it's harvest time.
Seventh-grade student Aaron Curtis said they've learned a lot in the garden club.
“I learned about nutrition and the way different food impact your health,” Curtis said.
And that's not all. The students were awarded a special gift, a $10,000 donation from Soul City Solar and also United Way of Capital Area, totaling $20,000 toward the upkeep of the garden and supplies. The garden was created in 2016.
In the News
Blackburn students' farmer's market features the fruits of their labor
May 17, 2024
Blackburn students' farmer's market features the fruits of their labor
Roslyn Anderson, WLBT Channel 3 News
May 17, 2024
Blackburn Middle School students are reaping the benefits of their labor cultivated in their community garden. Friday, the young farmers went to the market with the fruits and vegetables they grew and harvested.
After months of tilling and tending to the soil and watching the produce grow, Blackburn Middle School students offer the fruits of their labor to the public during their annual Farmer’s Market. Jackson State University and the United Way of the Capital City Area hosted the event which allows the community to purchase the foods students nurtured.
“I planted bell peppers,” said seventh grader Cameelah Kelly. She was manning the register after watching the bell peppers grow.
“It feels amazing knowing that I’ve been working hard and people want to come buy the things that we’ve grown,” said Kelly.
Students were also selling squash, cabbage, watermelons and more. The garden started in 2016 is a bright spot in this urban landscape.
“It feels amazing to know something that you planted with our own hands has now grown into something that you can sell and share with other people,” said 12-year-old Aaron Curris, who pulled weeds and grew tomatoes and lettuce.
Delcina McGlothin of Gluckstadt put the sale on her calendar to make sure she didn’t miss it.
“I love the children, and when they’re doing something positive, I want to support them,” said McGlothin. “Because there’s so much negative that goes on in the world, and when I see young people that want to do something, I’m in it 100 percent.”
JSU Community Engagement Director Heather Denne said in the urban area, the garden brings beauty to the community.
“We started with two vacant lots, and we have just grown to have a shed, and we just repaved our garden,” said Denne. “We have a solar panel that waters our garden, and so we have a mural, and so every year we’re adding new things.”
Blackburn students spent months growing and preparing the produce. Soul City Solar and the United Way each donated $10,000 to support the garden.
In the News
JSU and Blackburn Middle School Receive $20,000 for collaborative student learning garden
May 23, 2024
JSU and Blackburn Middle School Receive $20,000 for collaborative student learning garden
William H. Kelly, III, JSU Newsroom
May 23, 2024
Jackson State University’s Office of Community Engagement, in partnership with Blackburn Middle School, received a total of $20,000 from United Way of the Capital Area (UWCA) and Soul City Solar at the annual Student-Led Farmer’s Market on Friday, May 17. The funds will support the JSU/Blackburn Learning Garden to benefit middle school students and combat food deserts in surrounding communities.
“We began this garden eight years ago with our friends in the University Park neighborhood, where we are now, under the leadership of Ms. Betty Lyons. Ms. Lyons, who is now in heaven, always used to tell me, ‘Heather, we want a garden, but you know the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,’” said Heather Denne, Ph.D., director of JSU’s Office of Community Engagement.
The harvest was indeed plentiful, with contributions from Stamps Super Burgers in the form of $125 toward the student farmers market proceeds, and a $7,000 donation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help repave the learning garden grounds, ensuring ADA compliance. Soul City Solar and UWCA each donated $10,000.
“We at United Way are all about supporting and convening natural partners around health, education, and economic mobility. Today, we are specifically focused on teaching young people about healthy living, growing vegetables, and entrepreneurship,” said Nikki McCelleis, president and CEO of UWCA.
The student-led farmer’s market was full of excitement and new beginnings for many Blackburn Middle School students as they helped patrons select fruits and vegetables, they had grown themselves.
Jayden Bryant, a sixth grader and garden club member at Blackburn Middle School, believes that working in the learning garden has taught him the importance of health.
“I joined because I thought it would be a good experience and a chance to connect with nature and fruits and vegetables. I have learned that it’s good to eat more fruits and vegetables because it helps with your health,” Bryant said.
Organizations such as Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Food Corps, and GenFreeMS joined the event, offering free children’s books about plants, freshly made preserves from locally grown blueberries, financial literacy resources, and freshly squeezed juices. Representatives from Foot Print Farms also taught four-year-olds from JSU’s Lottie W. Thornton Early Childhood Center and Little Saints Academy about potting and garden health.
Funds from UWCA and Soul City Solar will go toward the upkeep and programmatic needs of the learning garden.
