East TN health centers’ community gardens: More than fresh produce

In rural Tennessee, many residents lack access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food. So, two health center systems in the state are sprouting solutions – with community garden programs.

Aura Sheran – a certified clinical medical assistant with East Tennessee State University’s Johnson City Community Health Center – said the garden connects patients, the community, and volunteers – which fosters a collaborative effort to address food insecurity and promote healthier choices.

“We serve a lot of the community that don’t have enough funds to purchase produce and that kind of thing, food wise,” said Sheran. “So, it helps them to cut some of that cost back, and to take some produce home and share with their family.”

Community health centers serve more than 423,000 patients across Tennessee, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Nicole Vanover is a phlebotomist with Ballad Health who provides lab services to the ETSU clinic.

She said community partners – like the Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council, which runs a food access program – help to provide resources, and vendors provide funding and equipment.

“Tractor Supply – both the Johnson City Tractor Supply and the Jonesborough Tractor Supply store – each donated about $150 to $200 worth of products,” said Vanover. “That was soil, fertilizer, tomato cages, things like that.”

She added that the garden flourishes with the support of volunteer ETSU students who help maintain it, and clear the beds at the end of each growing season.

Cherokee Health Systems maintains legacy gardens at its Alcoa, Maynardville, and New Tazewell health centers.

Ginny Weatherstone, community development consultant with Cherokee, said the gardens serve as community spaces where patients can interact.

And they honor the memory of former CEO – Dr. Dennis Freeman, who had a passion for gardening from his Iowa farm upbringing.

“Growing things was something that he did growing up, and it was always near and dear to his heart,” said Weatherstone. “He got sidetracked there, leading a rather large organization for over 40 years, and always in the back of his mind had the idea of community gardens that would serve our patients.”

Weatherstone pointed out that participants also learn about gardening in Cherokee Health Systems’ psychiatric day-treatment program.

So, the garden serves a dual purpose – providing fresh fruits and vegetables for patients, and helping people with mental illness learn how to cope.

“We really do believe that these gardens are an important part of the day treatment program. They are scheduled now into the daily activity, the list of things that are going to be done,” said Weatherstone. “There is nothing like a bowl of fresh strawberries to just really make somebody feel good about what they’ve been able to accomplish.”

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