Volunteers with Fields of Hope, a mission started by Tryon First Baptist Church, are growing potatoes to give to Manna Food Bank of Asheville, Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, the Meeting Place and various local churches.
Pam Doty, director of the Meeting Place, said the potato donations are used in the organization’s on-site meals, in the Meals on Wheels program and as supplements to certain members’ grocery supplies.
“We are trying to use more and more fresh produce instead of boxed foods,” Doty said. “They get more nutrition that way.”
Doty said the donations from the Fields of Hope project are greatly needed and appreciated by all members of the Meeting Place.
Member David Graham said the church wanted an active means of showing love to the community.
“Missions are part of what Jesus taught,” said Graham. “There are a lot of people that are hungry, and this is something we can do. The land is here.”
The potatoes are being grown in the field across the street from the Lynn Post Office. The land is owned by Phil Pleasants, chairman of the Missions Committee for Tryon First Baptist; he is allowing the church to use it for their Fields of Hope project. The potato planter being used was borrowed from Mars Hill Baptist Church, and the seed potatoes were purchased from Bill Benson in Columbus.
Some of the challenges the potato growers may face are potato bugs, weeds and either too much rain or not enough. Graham said that while we should get enough rain, the church is looking into a drip-type system in case of drought.
Graham said the church tried to grow potatoes last year in Landrum, but the crop was not very successful because of weeds that stripped nutrients from the soil.  However, Graham believes the land used this year will be suitable because it is near the river and has a good pH level. Also, the magnesium and potassium levels in the soil are over the minimum requirement, which means the potatoes will be very nutritious.
“We will have a good crop this year,” Graham said.
The potatoes will take approximately 120 days to grow. The church will harvest them in August with a potato plow and about 70 volunteers from ages 3 to 93.
Graham said the best part of harvesting the potatoes at the end of the Fields of Hope Project is seeing people of all ages collecting the fruits of their labor.
“In the end, you’ve actually grown something to help feed the hungry,” Graham said.