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Farmers for Christ raising produce for storm victims

Ken Meacham, founder of Farmers for Christ, has a 15-acre farm in Harvest where he and wife Shirley, nine paid workers, and other volunteers grow fresh vegetables to give to those in need — especially victims of the April 27 tornadoes.

In less than a month, a portion of the crop will be ready for harvest.

Meacham is reaching out to pastors of area churches to help him identify residents in need of fresh produce this summer, gardeners to grow fruits and vegetables to donate, as well as pickers to help him bring in the crop.

“I would like to challenge the people of North Alabama and south Tennessee to start or produce a larger garden than normal to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to storm victims,” Meacham compared the effort to wartime victory gardens. “I challenge the accomplished gardeners all over the state to step up. We need your help.”

Because Meacham and friends stagger the planting of the crops so they don’t all mature at once and go to waste, the harvest of watermelon, corn, beans, peas, butter beans, okra, squash, tomatoes and other vegetables continues through October. They grew 35 tons of produce last year and expect to produce 150 tons this year. This is where Farmers for Christ could use help.

“By the Fourth of July, we are going to have a tremendous amount of food coming off these fields,” he said.

The organization needs local church officials to tell Meacham how many residents need food donations so he can determine how much to deliver. He also needs volunteers to pick the crops once they mature.

He will provide sandwiches and water for pickers, unless there are church groups willing to help provide lunch.

Contact Meacham at 256-777-7793.

(Source: enewscourier.com)