In a Dallas neighborhood of historical significance, a nonprofit is planting seeds to nourish the body and a legacy. NBC 5’s Laura Harris takes us to the Oak Cliff Veggie Project.
In a historic Black neighborhood of Dallas, a nonprofit organization is planting seeds to nourish the body and a legacy.
Ples Montgomery and his mother Bettie, started the Oak Cliff Veggie Project in 2018. They have been planting seeds of hope with the garden, ever since.
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WATCH HERE"We come and help somebody help themselves. We are then ultimately teaching them how to help themselves," Ples said. "What we are doing is reintroducing a time-honored practice of self-reliance and healthcare for the community."
Since they started their efforts, they say they have helped to feed 1,900 families with nutritional food. They say they have cultivated nearly a dozen gardens and raised more than $434,000 to continue their efforts.
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SIGN UP "We pride ourselves on this being a safe place and it is a healing place. People can look at this and know that something positive is going on," Bettie said.
She is a nurse by trade and understands the value of healthy eating, which translates into healthy living. That is why the co-op puts a big emphasis on young students, with more than 500 education hours since they took root in the community.
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Bettie said it's also no mistake that the Oak Cliff Veggie Project is planted on land with deep-rooted historical purpose.
"Where we are standing is right on the boundary of one of the historic Freedman Towns in the city of Dallas. The Freedman Towns were the places where the formerly enslaved folks were able to settle in our city and set up their own communities." Ples said.
The Montgomery family said they pride themselves on their monthly, fresh food distributions that fill the gap in an area of Dallas known as a food desert. It's where fresh foods and vegetables aren't readily available.
"I know we've done a lot of that giving people a fish. Now we want to teach people to fish," Bettie said.
The nonprofit hosts community events and invites volunteers to join.
