- Situation
- Food insecurity is a reality for many residents of Onslow County. Community outreach groups like the Salvation Army host food distribution sites throughout the county and people wait in line for hours to receive the food boxes. At the same time, many people have gained an interest in gardening and growing their own food. For many, there are physical and financial barriers to gardening, as there are many cost inputs involved to get started.
- Response
- Bucket Brigade is an outreach program developed through a partnership between Extension Master Gardener volunteers, Cooperative Extension, and the Salvation Army. The program uses grant funds received to purchase grow buckets, potting soil, vegetable plants and seeds and other materials needed. The Extension Master Gardener volunteers lead participants through the process of planting a grow bucket with in season vegetable plants, empowering them to grow their own food at home. The grow buckets are lightweight and portable, so even those living in apartments or who have mobility issues can garden. Many of the Bucket Brigade events are offered during regularly scheduled food distribution sites through the Salvation Army, and so reach those who are experiencing food insecurity. Extension partnered with White Oak High School horticulture students to grow the vegetable transplants for these events with seeds donated by Walmart. This allowed the students to play an active role in this program as well as learn about seed starting. Many of the students indicated a keen interest in helping others through Bucket Brigade and some even volunteered at a Bucket Brigade event!
- Results
- In February, two separate Bucket Brigades were offered in Onslow County. One was at Living Hope Baptist Church food distribution site and reached 36 individuals. The second event was offered on a Saturday at Enon Chapel Baptist Church food distribution site and was coordinated in part by a local Scout who was working towards his Eagle Scout rank. That event also drew in community volunteers from local high schools and the Marine Corps, which further expanded the impact on the community. We served 50 individuals at the second event. In addition to participants receiving free grow buckets and plants, they also received research based information on gardening and learned about resources available to them in the community. Bucket Brigade has expanded each year and reaches more and more residents of Onslow County. There are already three more confirmed events in 2025 and more tentatively scheduled throughout the county at low income housing communities, food distribution sites, and county facilities. Extension has much to offer the residents of the county, including nutrition and food preparation information, EFNEP programming, local foods, and gardening information. There is a lot of interest from our community partners, so we will continue to expand and serve our community.
- County: Onslow
Team: Emilee Morrison, Lacey Brown, and Jessica Gardner
Objective: Consumer Horticulture
