Texas Coal Mine Transforms Into Garden Feeding 3,000 Yearly
A former coal mine in Texas now grows 10,000 pounds of fresh produce each year for people living in a food desert. The garden supplies six food pantries in an area where food insecurity is 51% higher than the national average.
In Jewett, Texas, barren land that once fueled a massive power plant now grows tomatoes, peppers, and squash for thousands of families who need them most.
The NRG Dewey Prairie Garden sits on former coal mining land about 60 miles east of Waco. Since April 2022, it has harvested 10,000 pounds of produce for six local food pantries, transforming industrial wasteland into a lifeline for communities struggling to access fresh food.
Jewett sits in a food desert where many residents live over 10 miles from the nearest grocery store. Food insecurity rates here are 51% higher than the national average, making fresh vegetables a luxury most families can't afford.
The garden is part of a larger restoration effort covering 35,000 acres of former mining land. Nonprofit Texan by Nature manages the space, turning earth once excavated for coal into rows of healthy vegetables for an estimated 3,000 people every year.
"You wouldn't think that this could happen," says Debbie Glaze, a lead gardener on the project. "I think it's amazing that the ground is actually growing all these vegetables after all that mine digging."
The Ripple Effect
The garden's impact reaches far beyond filling empty plates. Leon, Limestone, and Freestone Counties rank among the least healthy in Texas, with high rates of obesity and diabetes linked to limited access to nutritious food.
"Most of our clients are unable to regularly buy fresh fruits and vegetables, due to the cost," says Kathleen Buchanan of The Lord's Pantry of Leon County. The garden lets families "shop" for free produce at their local food pantries, removing the financial barrier to eating healthy.
Kristy Vandegriff of Leon Community Food Pantry explains how fresh vegetables change lives: "Being able to offer fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis will help our clients make choices for better health."
The project plans to expand another nine acres, which means even more families across three counties will have access to tomatoes, greens, and other produce grown right in their community.
Land once stripped bare to power homes is now growing food that powers healthier lives.
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Based on reporting by Good Good Good
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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