BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The City of Inez is partnering with the 4-H Youth Development program to pursue funding opportunities and space for youth gardening projects. Nicole Hinkle, the 4-H program assistant at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in Martin County, sparked the collaboration during the Inez Commission meeting Dec. 19.
“My job is to come up with some cool ideas, events and programs that can help develop our youth in our community,” Hinkle said. “We want the kids to be able to plant a garden, grow the garden, till the soil, sample the soil and do the entire project.”
The 4-H agent stopped short of calling it a “community garden” at this stage. Her ideas range from planting greens at the cabin on King Fisher Trail to raised garden boxes along the city walk and, ultimately, a full-on community garden. She shared a suggestion from Inez Commissioner Nita Collier about the kids growing greens on King Fisher, saying the community could use the green onions for the soup bean dinner on Heritage Day.
“Eventually, the goal would be to have a community garden in a vacant lot or at the extension office or wherever we could all decide to have that kind of a community garden,” said Hinkle. “It would be similar to the one they have at Turkey Creek Church, but more so for the Inez area and getting the youth involved.”
She informed the commission about several grant opportunities, including the Kidsgardening.org’s GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant for $500, opening Jan. 3. The grant is for installing or improving youth garden and greenspace.
“That was my purpose in coming before Jan. 3,” said Hinkle, adding that the grant must serve 15 youth. “That’s where the 4-H would come in. You guys could apply for the grant, get the grant, and we could provide the youth.”
This grant fits with 4-H’s mission, Hinkle noted.
“The grant funding dramatically expands learning opportunities for program participants. So that’s where 4-H would come in also. We would be able to combine those learning experiences for the kids.”
The selection of grant winners is prioritized based on need.
“We all know that Martin County, Inez, everywhere in here, we are very health and food insecure,” noted Hinkle. “Being able to provide any opportunities for the betterment of our health and food insecurities, I’m 100% behind that.”
She mentioned the Lots of Compassion Grant for $20,000, opening in March, designed to transform vacant lots into community gardens. The city itself is ineligible to apply, which opens avenues for collaborative approaches with 4-H.
“We could apply for that grant as a nonprofit youth development and work with you all to find a vacant lot.”
Besides these, other grant opportunities include the Youth Garden Grant for $500 and the Whole Kids Foundation’s Garden Grant for $3,000.
“I would be very happy to work with you going forward over the next few years to get the community garden up and going and providing some quality things for our community.”
Mayor Ed Daniels inquired if Hinkle could assist with the grant paperwork.
“As a program assistant, I’m not sure what my capabilities would be,” stated Hinkle, suggesting that 4-H program director Joe Maynard could assist.
Daniels tasked City Clerk Lisa Mollett to collaborate with Hinkle and Maynard on these initiatives.
“I’ll be very happy to do that,” Mollett said.