Tusculum College honored patron Nettie Fowler McCormick during their annual service day in September.
Faculty, staff and students from the Knoxville Regional Center came together on September 15 and 16to honor McCormick by spending their service day working at CAC Beardsley Community Farm. The group from Tusculum College picked 40 pounds of Muscadine grapes, 15 pounds of greens, cleared old crops, watered plants, weeded, and much more.
CAC Beardsley Community Farm is located on the former grounds of Beardsley Junior High School near downtown Knoxville. Their mission is to educate people about organic and urban gardening while giving support to community members by showing them how to grow their own food.
All the vegetables raised at the farm are donated to the Family Crisis Center, Bridge Refugee Services, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM), and Western Heights Baptist Center. Volunteers are always needed and groups are able to visit the farm to learn more about nutrition, the environment, and teamwork.
“Beardsley Farm is run by such a special group of selfless people,” said student Rhonda Thompson of Knoxville. “I am honored and humbled to have helped them feed area families. I find it astounding that more than 10,000 pounds of fresh produce are grown and donated by this amazing organization each year.”
By Kayla Freeman, freshman business major from Charleston, S.C.