The Berry-Patch Homegrown Plants and Produce has been sowing seeds into their local community for the past three seasons. Last week, owners Greg and Darby Berry along with their daughter and grandson, donated plants to local gardeners, Julie Larue and her family, at the Jim Lucas Checotah Library to plant in the community garden there.

The community garden opened in 2021 when the Oklahoma Department of Libraries were awarded twentysix Health Literacy Grants for the 2020-21 grant cycle funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library was one of the twentysix libraries that received a $4,000 grant which was used to create a “Community Garden” on site.

Located on the south side of the library the garden is set up to inspire a healthier lifestyle by providing spaces for area citizens to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Every gardener is responsible for their own seed and keeping their garden spot and the city provides a water faucet for the gardeners.

LaRue and her family were excited to receive several different varieties of vegetables and herbs from the Berry-Patch and her youngest son, Camden was thrilled to play in the dirt and start planting.

The Berry-Patch is a small, family-owned nursery and local produce grower located right here in McIntosh County at Brush Hill. The Berrys are local farmers who are focused and dedicated to cultivating fresh, organic and chemical-free plants and vegetables to sell to customers who want higher production, better flavor and non-GMO vegetables or flowers.

Darby also makes famous dandelion and red bud jellies that fly off the shelf every season.

With over 30 years of gardening experience, Greg offers his expertise to customers who buy plants or flowers from the Berry-Patch. He also guarantees if anything happens to the plants, he will replace them.

“I want the very best for my family, friends and neighbors,” Greg said. “We have been a part of the Brush Hill community for over 24 years and when a wellknown neighbor decided they were retiring from selling produce in the area, they asked if we would carry the torch because they still saw the need for fresh local produce. So, we took on the task and hope to help fight food insecurities in our county.”

The Darbys have old-fashion values and they run their home produce stand on the honor system. They also have a bin of free veggies that might have slight imperfections that they give away so there’s no waste of their produce.

“Darby and I love giving a free plant to a child every chance they get. We know that a good nursery will help meet the needs of a small, rural community or a family struggling to put food on the table,” Greg said.

On market days, the Berry-Patch can also be found among other vendors at The Barn off of Highway 150. To learn more visit their Facebook page, The Berry- Patch Homegrown Plants and Produce or call 918-926-0396 and find out firsthand what specials are blooming.