MUNCIE, Ind— Megan Benion has had a passion for gardening fresh produce since she was young. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Benion moved to Munice in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
After a short while, Benion noticed a food desert in her community.
“I was at Walmart here on the south side, and there was no produce on the shelf, and I’ve never seen that before, like nothing in the store,” Benion said. “While I’m there, I’m viewing that like oh wow, this is crazy, but people looked dispar, like there was no hope coming.”
After her trip to Walmart, Benion decided it was time to take action. She transformed her family farm into Negasi Gardens and Agriculture Experience, a two-part nonprofit organization. Negasi’s mission is to practice the art of community through agriculture, cultivating not only soil but the spirit of the community. The nonprofit also has learning opportunities for the community to learn about agriculture.
Negasi is also the first local fresh produce distributor. Benion hosts weekly food distributions every Friday morning for anyone in the community, depending on household size.
The food distributions have helped 60 families per week, equating to 250 families a month in Muncie. 250 families a month have better access to fresh produce.
“I look up and wow, there are lots of people, but I feel in myself that there are so many more, I guess that’s the driving factor,” Benion said. “While I’m content with what I’m doing and this is great, I feel like the need is so much bigger.”
Benion has her own mission; she wants her organization to reach the community beyond food. She wants to educate the community on the importance of agriculture.
Eventually, she plans to transform Negasi into a marketplace to serve as a community hub. By distributing fresh produce and eliminating the food desert in Muncie.
To learn more about Negasi Gardens and Agriculture Experience, visit their website.
Contact Amelia Winter with comments at amelia.winter@bsu.edu.
