MUSCLE SHOALS - Retired barber Auvalene Ballard is digging in this spring as she looks for ways to stretch the Social Security benefits she receives each month.

"I don't get but $600 a month, and with the price of everything going up the way it is, it's tough just getting by," Ballard said as she picked up gardening supplies distributed by the Gerald Williams Cooperative Garden Program. "The food I grow in my garden is really going to help me get by this year."

Ballard, of Tuscumbia, was one of the 910 participants in this year's garden program, which provides seed, plants and fertilizer to low-income residents of Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties. The program is a joint effort among the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, Tennessee Valley Authority Retirees Association and First Presbyterian Church, Florence. Gardening supplies were distributed Thursday and Friday.

Lorene Malone Wells, 88, of Sheffield, who has participated in the program for 35 years, said the food she grows in her garden helps tremendously.

"I'd probably starve if I didn't have my garden," she said.

Tammy McDaniel, executive director of the Community Action Agency, said participation in the gardening program this year is the highest ever.

"It's a direct result of the shape of the economy," she said. "People are having a hard time just making ends meet and they are turning to gardens as a way save money. The money they save on food by growing their own fruits and vegetables will be used to pay for medicine, pay for utilities and for other expenses."

James Bedsole, a TVA retiree who helps coordinate the program, said participation has increased dramatically in recent years.

"Four years ago, we had about 500 participants, then we grew to about 650 the following year and a little over 700 the next year and over 800 last year," he said. "This year we ended registration three days early because we already had over 900 participants and did not have enough money to take on any more."

The program relies solely on donations to pay for its operation. McDaniel said additional donations were sought this year after it became apparent the program was going to exceed its goal of 800 participants.

The seeds, plants and fertilizer were purchased from local vendors, McDaniel said.

"We used to order the supplies from out-of-town businesses, but with the economy in the shape it's in, we're spending our money here at home now," she said.

Members of the University of North Alabama women's soccer team helped with distribution by loading 40-pound bags of fertilizer into recipients'

vehicles.

"I'm from Florida, and we don't have anything like this down there. I think it's pretty cool " said UNA soccer player Alex McLay as she lugged a bag of fertilizer to a participant's pickup.

Bedsole likes the program because it encourages self-sufficiency.

"This is not a hand-out program," he said. "It takes a lot of work to grow a garden. If they take the seed and plants we provide and grow a garden, they have earned every bit of the food they produce."

Donations for the garden program can be mailed to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc., Attn.: Garden Program, 745 Thompson St., Florence, AL 35630.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.