LAUDERDALE COUNTY-The Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council gave $1,000.00 to Central High School for the purchase of materials, such as lumber, other building supplies, plants and seeds, to build 6 raised garden beds on the school campus along with 1 compost tumbler and a rain barrel.
According to Central High School Vo Ag Teacher Ryan Harrison, this project “allowed students to obtain real world building experience in building the 6 
raised beds, 1 compost tumbler, and a rain barrel.” Students are also gaining experience by caring for the gardens. “The plan for the raised beds is to produce vegetables that will be distributed to senior citizens at the Central Community Center,” said Harrison. Also, students that volunteer to help with the community garden beds will be allowed to take food home to their families.
Tuesday, August 9 the Northwest AL RC&D and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) hosted an Outreach Meeting at the site of the community gardens on Central High School grounds. NRCS representatives Renea Dyer and Nathan Mangum were in attendance. Renea Dyer gave an overview of NRCS Programs and Services. Donna Garretson of the Lauderdale Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) shared an educational program on Watersheds, Erosion and Water Quality. The Lauderdale SWCD Rainfall Simulator was demonstrated showing the impact of rainfall on different land management systems.
DC Thornton, RC&D Board Member, noted he appreciated the excellent work completed by the Central High School students. He noted it was encouraging to see a small amount of funding achieve such impressive results. The Council also expressed appreciation to Senators Larry Stutts and Tim Melson as well as Representatives Johnny Mack Morrow, Marcel Black, Lynn Greer, and Phillip Pettus who represent Lauderdale County well and provide support for the RC&D in the state legislature.
Media Release/Brianna Coleman Burns
Program Assistant
Northwest AL RC&D
