United States - Arkansas Seeds of Hope

Project Highlights

The Delta Sprouts is a Southeast Arkansas cooperative established to serve the people of Chicot, Desha and Drew counties in Arkansas. These counties struggle with poverty, poor nutrition, unemployment, decreased population from economic flight and limited jobs due to lack of education.

To create the maximum benefit for participants, Heifer International’s Seeds of Hope Project will provide 17 families with heifers, goats and sheep; assist 116 families in producing food and income for their families; and establish two learning centers for livestock and horticulture education. The original 17 families who receive livestock will Pass on the Gift to an additional 17 families, while the learning centers will impact at least 50 families per year. The project will also establish three farmers' markets and one community kitchen, which will benefit 45 families.

Over the past year, the group has worked to redefine the core direction of the cooperative and to develop ways to increase membership and the number of farmers ready to pass on their gifts.

An increased number of people applied for a fall plot in the community garden, and five farmers are ready to pass on part or all of their gifts.

Key updates:

• Created training programs in livestock, horticulture, nutrition and health, micro-enterprise and training the trainers for sustainable agriculture enterprise and outreach.
• Stimulated the economic growth of the community through researching, identifying, establishing and marketing locally produced foods.
• Raised community’s social consciousness of the nutrition and value of locally produced food.