One Man's Vision Helps Community with Plasticulture Demonstration

By Thomas McDaniel, NRCS District Conservationist, Shelby County, AL

In a small community in the city of Talladega, Alabama, lives a man who not only cares for the spiritual concerns and aspects of the citizens of this community and the church he pastors, but he also cares that too many generations have grown-up, (some moved away while others have remained in the community), and have lost the knowledge of where food comes from.

Rev. Sherman Green was concerned with the health, education, and all-round well-being of the community. In early January 2009, he stopped at the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service office in Talladega to ask if there were any programs available to help the younger people of the community understand how to plant, raise, harvest, and care for vegetables. Wanda Jurriaans, the Extension Coordinator, discussed many things and opportunities with Rev. Green. During this discussion she talked about plasticulture and the benefits of raising vegetables on plastic. She piqued his curiosity.

Wanda discussed with Rev. Green about putting in a plasticulture system using a grant from the Coosa Valley RC&D. The Coosa Valley RC&D purchased a bedder/mulcher in the late fall of 2008 to assist the 11 counties within the Council area. Using the educational aspect of the project, Wanda assisted him with an Educational Grant, and turned it in to the RC&D approval committee.

The grant was approved and Wanda and Rev. Green went to work getting things rolling.  Rev. Green talked with the City of Talladega about getting water to the site, and Wanda contacted Eddie May, Coosa Valley RC&D Coordinator; Thomas McDaniel, NRCS District Conservationist in Columbiana; and Jeff Colvin, WSI Coordinator, for Coosa Valley RC&D, to set-up a demonstration project.

A date was set, the land was prepared, and in February 2009, the demonstration was scheduled.

Wanda welcomed everyone to the big event.  Eddie discussed steps taken to set up the demonstration. Jeff Colvin talked about the bedder/mulcher and demonstrated how to connect the filters, fertilize canister, and pipeline, as well as how to connect the drip tube. Thomas McDaniel talked about the drought for years 2005 thru 2007 and the importance of water and the water savings of plasticulture and drip irrigation.

About 50 people from 6 counties came to the event. Many questions were asked and tremendous interest was shown by those who came. Several people discussed the possibility of using micro-irrigation/plasticulture in their gardens.

Rev. Green said he believed that the demonstration was a great success. The children who attended the church school of about 25 students where he was pastor, were thrilled to have this project underway.

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