POWERGRAMS

100% CONNECTED Restoration 154 in Coffee County was started by community visionaries to bring people together through projects that will have a significant and positive impact. The name of the nonprofit was inspired by the 154-mile-long Pea River, which passes through downtown Elba. The goal is to identify and develop 154 projects. To date, the community has initiated eight projects, which are in varying stages – from established and successful to early testing. "One hundred and fifty-four projects may seem like a lot," said Philip Box, pastor of the Elba Church of Christ and co-founder of Restoration 154, "but the way we look at it, helping one's community ought to be a lifelong endeavor." Box and co-founder Justin Maddox began by purchasing the old Elba Theater. "Preserving history and building a future is what we are trying to do," said Box. Monthly movie nights help fund the project. In conjunction with the Elba Ministerial Alliance, Restoration 154 established a community garden and dubbed it the "Giving Garden." The garden brings people together through planting, caring and harvesting of the produce. The Elba Community Food Bank is the sole recipient of the crops grown at the Giving Garden. The operators say it has breathed new life into the facility. "Being able to offer clients fresh fruits and vegetables is wonderful," said Elba Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Bynum. "In addition to the staples the food bank provides, we can now offer fresh peas, tomatoes, okra and whatever else is in season." The Giving Garden has been a communitywide effort. The boxes for the raised beds were built by Elba High School students. Tools and seeds were donated to the project. Community volunteers tend the garden. Thanks to Coffee County Commissioner Dean Smith, the Giving Garden is home to a new Wiregrass Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) wooden tunnel house. The house will allow vegetables, flowers, fruits or herbs to be grown almost year-round. Growing plants in tunnel houses is gaining popularity among small farmers, home gardeners and hobbyists across Alabama. Smith, who was aware of the RC&D's work, brought them together with Restoration 154. "The tunnel house has been a great addition to the garden," Box said. "It resembles a greenhouse, but is not considered a greenhouse because no artificial heating or cooling is provided. All planting is done directly in the soil. The only heat source for the tunnel is the sun." RC&D employees said during the cold or cool times of the year Giving Garden volunteers will be able to grow collards, turnips, mustard, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beets, onions, potatoes, English peas, snow peas, snap beans, carrots and radishes. "It will benefit Elba City Schools through various educational opportunities, and it will provide Restoration 154's Giving Garden with additional crops for our Elba food bank," Bynum said. The Giving Garden received a $1,000 Good Roots grant from Alabama Power to purchase fruit trees to expand the project. Since its inception in 2011, the Elba Community Food Bank has helped more than 18,000 people. In the first six months of 2015, it served about 2,000 people. By Linda Brannon Good Roots Volunteers from throughout the community help tend the Giving Garden. 7 FRU ITS O F GIVIN G GARDEN HELPIN G FEED ELBA COM MUNIT Y Brook Chapman helped grow cabbage.

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