3 days ago
One Acre Hope Project aims to help farmer, community in Helene aftermath
ELK PARK, N.C. (WJHL) — After floodwaters from Hurricane Helene washed away farmer Rudy Holden's equipment and left debris, rock, and silt behind on his eight acres of farmland, he thought his 11 years of farming were over.
'I was kind of disheartened to be honest, because half my equipment got washed away, cars trucks, all kind of debris,' Holden said.
But a local church in his area is hoping to restore at least one acre of farmland for him this season while helping the community at the same time.
Elk Park Christian Church pastor Jonathan Sheppard remembers hearing about Holden's farm one day during a conversation with the farmer and was impressed with his faith that 'God would provide.'
'In that conversation, he didn't ask for help, he wasn't asking for help,' Sheppard told News Channel 11. 'And something he said really struck me. He said, 'God will provide.''
Sheppard has a plan to help not only Holden but others in the community by restoring one acre and planting potatoes. He's calling it the One Acre Hope Project.
'I thought we'll buy all of the stuff that it takes to do it, and we'll pay him what he would normally make on an acre. So that way he's got some income. And then I said, we'll take this. Whatever he grows, and we'll just give it to the community,' Sheppard said.
One acre of planted potatoes can yield around 120 bushels of mature potatoes. Sheppard plans to distribute the crop in half-bushel bags, helping more than 200 families. He says it's not just about flood relief, it's about food relief for an already impoverished area.
'Even before the storm, you know, there's lots of, you know, food insecurity just in this know, a lot of poverty and things like that,' Sheppard said.
The church also has a community garden and served as a distribution center after the floods for months. But there are a few hurdles to overcome to make the plan work.
The biggest challenge right now is finding seed potatoes, specifically Kennebec potatoes that Holden usually plants. He also needs someone to volunteer some equipment to help with the planting.
'Well, I need one certain piece of equipment to cover them, and, you know, just kind of getting them in the ground, I guess, is the main thing,' Holden said. 'It sounds like a good idea. It's a sort of a win-win situation to me. You know, if we can make it work.'
The church has created a link on its website to learn more about this project.
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