Americorps VISTA Tom Myslinsky met with the Wetzel County Commission Jan. 31 to share his plans to revitalize the county’s spirit and economy with a Grow Local, Go Local campaign.

Myslinsky serves in the capacity as a VISTA volunteer at the Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce and began his presentation by explaining how he and others at the chamber have been working to establish mentorship and marketing programs in the county, and promote volunteerism. In his largest undertaking, Myslinsky has been working hard to coordinate a local food project countywide in efforts to combat childhood obesity, create economic growth, and build community spirit.

“The local food initiative really came out of the realization by me and several other people that economic development is very important, and can be done by local food,” Myslinsky said. “We can grow Wetzel County through food.”

Myslinsky hopes this project will educate citizens about the benefits of eating locally grown food and teach them how to prepare simple, nutritious meals. Specifically he hopes to target impoverished families who could learn to plant and maintain home gardens for their nutritional and economic benefit.

Regarding childhood obesity, Myslinsky shared with the commission that West Virginia is ranked the third most obese state in the nation, with 36 percent of West Virginia’s children at an obese weight. Among other factors, this startling data makes for increased health costs to families, and also increases a child’s poverty of spirit.

He also shared that 90 percent of the state’s food is imported. With that in mind, simply increasing West Virginia’s in-state produce consumption to 10 percent would result in $462 million in economic growth.

Other advantages to growing and consuming locally grown food are the benefits of freshness, taste, and nutrition, says Myslinsky. He cited that producers who ship their produce focus on longevity in their crops, while local producers grow for taste and nutrition due to competition.

Myslinsky also talked about how locally grown food could better ensure a safe and secure food supply, citing the listeria outbreak in 2011 wherein dozens of people’s deaths across the country were linked to consuming bacteria-tainted cantaloupe from a Colorado farm. Another advantage to utilizing a local food supply would be the reduction of fossil fuel used in transporting produce to the area.

Regarding economic development, Myslinsky told commissioners that 34 farmers markets in West Virginia led to $50,000 generated the first time through, and that the average producer generates an income close to $10,000 and creates 70 part-time jobs. The VISTA volunteer noted that many economic developers fail to see how profitable such a market can be, noting that while such jobs within farming aren’t created hundreds at a time, they are indeed created, even if at just two or three jobs at a time.

Establishing a successful local food network requires partnerships. Myslinsky is working with senior citizens and medical communities, government agencies, faith-based groups, and enthusiastic volunteers to spread the local food movement. Myslinsky said he’s been overwhelmed with the positive responses from young adults who have expressed their interest in joining the movement. “This is not going to be a situation where we are out beating down doors for volunteers,” he commented. But rather, “the ability to organize and take advantage of the talent that’s out there” will be his welcomed challenge.

He also listed willing partners in the state which include the West Virginia community development HUB, the West Virginia Farmers’ Market Association, wvfarm2u.org, Huntington Community Gardens, WVU Extension Service, and the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition.

Myslinsky told commissioners plans are in the works to build raised garden beds at the senior centers in the county. With the centers’ approval, the beds would allow senior citizens to garden without the burden of bending to the ground. They also plan to acquire ergonomic tools to further aid persons with gardening.

The effort here, Myslinsky explained, is to have the senior members of the community mentor others. “A lot of seniors know a lot about gardening and producing,” he said. “My goal is to match each senior with a younger person for a transfer of knowledge.” The mentoring philosophy works both ways, as there are some “master gardeners” in the area who could teach senior citizens who wish to learn.

Myslinsky noted he anticipates developing workshops on the topics of healthy eating, making money the old fashioned way, and canning and food preservation to coincide with the grow local initiative and instill education and mentorship.

While there are a few farmers’ market stands in the area, Myslinsky would like to see the county incorporate meats, crafts, and entertainment into the markets. In his research Myslinsky has found these attributes are prominent in other areas and help make the markets more attractive to the public and build a true sense of community.

Myslinsky plans to market the initiative through community festivals, media PSAs, school sporting events, entertainment, and social media outlets.

He also shared with the commission that the benefits to this effort go beyond those of simply growing and eating local, fresh foods. He added that such endeavors will increase community good will, volunteerism, pride, and passion. “If you have cause, and people are passionate about that cause, they’re gonna be with you,” Myslinsky affirmed. “I walk around feeling pretty good that I’m on the ground floor of this movement. I’m passionate about it, and proud to be a part of it.”

The commission was very pleased with the progress Myslinsky has made and with the initiative as a whole. Commissioner Scott Lemley added, “The kind of food you eat is so important, no matter your age.”

To help spread the word and support the local food movement in the area, Myslinsky urges the public to make a commitment to economic development, buy locally, and participate. In fact, one of the easiest and most effective things people can do is simply talk about the project. “As this develops, talk about it,” Myslinsky reiterated. “Tell people why it’s important to them. If they know the ‘why,’ you can carry that message out.”

Volunteers In Service To America was founded in West Virginia in 1965. VISTA was born in conjunction to The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which was developed to serve the needs of the poorest Americans. Later, the VISTA program was incorporated into the Americorps network of programs in 1993. VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. About 6,500 Vista volunteers are placed each year in low-income communities around the country.

The Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary partnership of businesses and business professionals working together to build a healthy economy and improve the quality of life in Wetzel County.