A Warren Couple's Journey to Health and Food Security Through Gardening

Lisa and Willie Davis, residents of Warren, Ohio, are facing significant health challenges on a limited income. For us, a flourishing home garden isn't just a hobby; it's a lifeline to managing our health and securing nutritious food for our future.

Five years ago, we chose this place as our forever home, where we plan to spend the rest of our lives together. This July, we'll joyfully celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary – a testament to our enduring commitment to each other.

Life has presented us with significant challenges. We live on a very limited income of $1,050 a month from Willie's Social Security retirement benefits, and I, Lisa, have been disabled and unable to work for two decades. Both Willie and I manage diabetes, and I also live with Congestive Heart Failure and degenerative disc disease. These conditions demand a very strict and specialized diet: low in carbohydrates, sugar-free, and low in sodium.

While our SNAP benefits are a tremendous help, they simply don't stretch far enough to consistently provide the specific fresh, healthy foods we critically need, especially during the colder winter months when produce is scarce and expensive.

This is where our dream of a thriving home garden takes root. We're absolutely committed to growing a significant portion of our own food. We truly believe that, with the right setup, we can cultivate the vital, specialized produce essential for managing our health and profoundly improving our quality of life.

You might be wondering what our current garden situation looks like. Here's a video of our first attempt in 2022:

Despite previous small-scale attempts, we haven't been able to produce enough without proper supplies. And there's another major hurdle: our yard floods when it rains.

Here's a YouTube short video showing the flooding in our yard:  👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/7_aEpZHiHvU)

This flooding makes traditional in-ground gardening impossible and would ruin all our efforts. This is why materials for raised garden beds are critically needed – they'll lift our precious plants safely above the water. Once our garden is producing, we also plan to can, freeze, and dehydrate our harvest, allowing us to enjoy nutritious, medically-appropriate food year-round.

Willie & Lisa's Dream Garden Plan

Here's a look at our ambitious garden plan:

How You Can Help Us Grow a Feast from the Flood:

To bring this life-changing garden to fruition – a plan designed to provide a consistent source of healthy food for our long-term well-being – we estimate needing approximately $ 3,500 to $4,500 for materials and supplies. This comprehensive goal accounts for all the items listed below, plus a buffer for sales tax, potential delivery fees for bulk soil, and any slight price increases.

Here is a detailed breakdown of our estimated needs:

• Lumber for 14 Raised Garden Beds: ~$870
  • For (4) 5'x5' Beds: 12 x 8ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Boards @ ~$20/board = ~$240
  • For (2) 4'x4' Beds: 4 x 8ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Boards @ ~$20/board = ~$80
  • For (5) 4'x8' Beds: 15 x 8ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Boards @ ~$20/board = ~$300
  • For (1) 3'x12' Bed: 2 x 12ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Boards @ ~$30/board and 1 x 8ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Board @ ~$20/board = ~$80
  • For (1) 3'x16' Bed: 2 x 16ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Boards @ ~$40/board and 1 x 8ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Board @ ~$20/board = ~$100
  • For (1) 4'x10' Bed: 2 x 10ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Boards @ ~$25/board and 1 x 8ft 2x10 Pressure-Treated Board @ ~$20/board = ~$70
• Fasteners & Support Structures: ~$275
  • Exterior Deck Screws (3-3.5 inch): 1 large (approx. 8lb) box = ~$75
  • Metal Corner Brackets: Approx. 16 units for bed corners = ~$50
  • Manual Post Hole Digger: 1 unit = ~$60
  • 4"x4" Lumber for Tomato Frames: 6 x 8ft 4x4 Pressure-Treated Timbers @ ~$15/timber = ~$90
• Plant Protection Supplies: ~$790
  • 1/2" PVC Pipe for Hoops: 60 x 10ft sections @ ~$6/pipe = ~$360
  • 1/2" PVC "T" and Elbow Fittings: 60 assorted fittings @ ~$1/fitting = ~$60
  • Row Cover Fabric (for pest/wildlife protection): 2-3 large rolls = ~$200
  • Frost Cloth Fabric (for unexpected frost): 1 large roll = ~$85
  • 40% Shade Cloth (for hot summer days): 1 large roll = ~$85
• Quality Soil, Compost, and Amendments: ~$900
  • Approx. 13 Cubic Yards of Blended Topsoil/Compost (for filling all 14 raised beds) = ~$900
• Initial Planting & Basic Tools: ~$200
  • Basic Gardening Tool Set (trowel, hand rake, gloves, etc.): ~$50
  • Assorted Seeds and Initial Plant Starts: ~$150
• Food Preservation Equipment: ~$450
  • Small Chest Deep Freezer (approx. 5 cu ft): ~$275
  • Food Dehydrator (mid-range): ~$100
  • Canning Jars (variety of sizes, multiple cases): ~$75

Total Estimated Cost for Listed Items: ~$3,485

Receiving these supplies will be truly life-changing. It will allow us to establish a strong, protected garden that provides the low-carb, sugar-free, low-sodium vegetables and fruits we so desperately need for our health. It will lessen our reliance on limited food assistance and profoundly improve our long-term well-being. Once it's set up, we are confident that we can maintain the garden on our own.

Will you join us on this journey from flooding to feast? Any support you can offer, whether it's a monetary donation through our Give A Hand fundraiser or even a donation of specific materials and supplies from the list above, will make a tangible difference in our lives.

For direct inquiries or material donations, you can reach Lisa Davis at:

Phone: (234) 283-0435 
Email: [email protected]

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering our request and for your compassion.

With deepest gratitude,

Lisa and Willie Davis Warren, Ohio