1. CONETOE FAMILY LIFE CENTER
Gardening to Improve Health, Education and Youth Entrepreneurship
COMMUNITY NEED GROWING A SOLUTION
Home to 365 residents, Conetoe (pronounced Starting with only two acres, the Conetoe Community
kə-nē-tə) is located in northeastern North Carolina. Garden brings together young and old; feeds the
Conetoe Chapel Missionary Baptist Church established hungry with healthy, locally grown food; and teaches
the Conetoe Family Life Center (CFLC) in 2007 in young people to be successful community leaders and
response to profound community need. entrepreneurs.
With a congregational unemployment rate of 65%, CFLC’s garden has grown to 17 acres, and is
Conetoe faces a wide range of challenges: producing food at five chemical- and pesticide-free
gardens in two communities. After providing produce
 Undernourished youth; to families in need, youth sell vegetables at a roadside
 A high dropout rate; stand, grocery store, restaurants, and the State Farmers’
Market. Profits buy school supplies and school
 Almost 13% of children and more than 23% of
uniforms for youth participants, and a scholarship fund
elders living in poverty; has been established to help teens go on to higher
 High rates of life-threatening health issues such as education. Plans are underway to “swap” produce for
coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity — seafood with a nearby coastal community.
claiming the lives of 30 members under the age of
32 in 2011 alone. The impact? More than 75 community members
spanning ages from 5 to 78 work together, growing and
In an effort to stem the tide of devastating impacts of harvesting local food, building support and awareness
poverty in this rural, low wealth community, the of healthy living, and creating opportunities to
Conetoe Family Life Center started a community contribute to this small community.
garden with a small grant from Resourceful
Communities’ Creating New Economies Fund.
CONETOE FAMILY LIFE CENTER
CONTACT RICHARD JOYNER AT 252-883-9460 OR REJOYNER@NHCS.ORG

2. IT’S NOT JUST A GARDEN!
The Conetoe Community Garden is designed to meet the multiple
needs — and opportunities — in this rural crossroads community.
 Healthy Foods, Healthy Lifestyles: youth bring home fresh
foods they have grown, and prepare healthy meals for families.
 Youth Development: participants learn leadership and
business management skills, and job / work skills.
 Sustainable Agriculture Skills Training: all foods are grown
naturally, free of chemicals and pesticides.
 Youth Entrepreneurship: youth leaders plan the garden crops
and manage the income and expenses.
 Inter-Generational Collaboration: participants of all ages
work together in the garden, learning from each other and
growing relationships as well as healthy foods.
 Math, Science and Reading Education: young people work
on their math, science and reading skills while they carry out all
the work in the garden.
 School Supplies and Uniforms are part of the “pay” received
by each youth as compensation for their hard work.
 Marketing & Communications skills are part of the “hands-
on” learning for all youth participants.
 Technology Training: youth learn computer skills as part of
their responsibilities in managing the garden and the program.
 Workforce Development participants 16 years and older are
enrolled in workforce training to strengthen job and life skills.
 Juvenile Crime and Gang Prevention: mentoring and
coaching are provided to keep youth from joining gangs.
 Career Planning support is provided to help teens learn about
work opportunities in a variety of professions and careers.
 Community Building: working together and providing for
each other is helping to strengthen the family and community
ties in Conetoe.
 Self-Esteem and Self-Worth are products of a job well-done!
Here are some examples of Conetoe community garden’s
successes:
All photos by Natalie Abbassi
Produce and sell honey and honey butter: After three years of
chemical-free beekeeping, the Conetoe garden has 25 hives and
they are producing honey, honey butter and have plans to make
beeswax candles.
Commercial contracts for produce: The garden has contracts with
Piggly Wiggly Grocery store, Black Beard Restaurant in Conetoe
and Rockfish Grill in Raleigh.
Develop niche markets: An organic farmer is leading an effort to
grow and sell Asian vegetables.
Educational resources: Income generated from the efforts listed
above is used to purchase school supplies and provide
scholarships for local students.