Gardening Hope in Mount Hope, West Virginia!

Hi there,

I am currently undertalking a project that will get youth and community volunteers out gardening two community gardens in the center of the small, economically-depressed City of Mount Hope. This town has a bad reputation that has earned it the local nickname, "Mount No-Hope," and has been in a steady economic decline since the coal bust in the sixties. Many of the residents are poor and lack transportation, which in this area means there are only the local convenience and discount stores to shop in, none of which carry fresh fruits and vegetables. Not surprisingly, the town therefore has one of the highest rates of obesity and a startlingly high diabetes rate, even when compared with the rest of West Virginia, which leads the nation in rates of obesity and diabetes. Even worse, the highest rates of obesity and diabetes are found in children. The people of Mount Hope need health education, and they need it fast.

Thanks to recent local developments in the field of outdoor recreation, the City shows a lot of promise to attract tourists and new residents, which will add to the City's tax base and thus, its ability to provide programs to its citizens. A community garden right in the center of town will add to the overall appeal of Mount Hope to new residents. The people of Mount Hope need a reason to once again be proud to reside in the wild and scenic New River Gorge area. I am thrilled to be working on this project, and if you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact me, Lorien MacAuley, at the New River Gorge National River Headquarters.

Happy Times

I am in a great mood today.

All right everyone, make it last - it's the holidays! I am so immensely happy that it is finally time to celebrate!

See you all on the flip side,

Lorien