You can find them climbing the sides of businesses, stretching across school lawns, tucked away at childcare facilities, and nestled on the porches of neighbors' homes. These green spaces are more than just plants—they are signs of resilience, community, and self-reliance.
Indianola resident Lekell Edwards Shaw has combined her desire for healthy eating with her passion for gardening. She first turned to gardening during the pandemic in 2021, using what space she had at home to grow her own food. Since then, she has transformed every inch of her yard into a thriving, productive garden.
You’ll find strawberries, cucumbers, greens, corn, watermelons, cantaloupes, and about a dozen varieties of peppers growing in her backyard. Lekell has found more than just fresh produce, she has found peace. In a neighborhood where the soundtrack often includes gunshots, barking dogs, and the occasional street fight, her garden is a place of calm and renewal.
“I love being in the garden,” she says, a proud smile lighting up her face. For Lekell, there’s something deeply fulfilling about walking into her backyard and seeing food she once bought at the grocery store now growing under her care.
But Lekell’s passion doesn’t stop at harvesting food for her own family. She takes joy in sharing her bounty with friends and neighbors, often giving away fresh produce from her garden. She was also an active donor to the Freedom Community Garden in Indianola when it was operational and looks forward to seeing it revived in the future.
With a little blood, sweat, tears—and a lot of love, Lekell has created more than a garden. She’s created a space of nourishment, pride, and possibility. “It feels good,” she says, “knowing I can feed my family healthy food that I grew with my own hands.”
