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Effingham County libraries receive donated books to promote ag literacy
Effingham County Farm Bureau Office Manager Theresa Pevey (right) recently presented a copy of the children’s ag book “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” to Melissa Nicolaus, library manager (left) for the Live Oak Public Library’s Springfield branch. The donation was made on behalf of the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and Georgia EMC. (Submitted photo.)
Updated: Apr 16, 2025, 3:17 PM
Published:
Special to the Herald
MACON – The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) are jointly promoting agricultural literacy by donating copies of the children’s book “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” to nearly 400 libraries in the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS).
The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) and Georgia EMC have given each county Farm Bureau in Georgia enough books for every public library in the county. Effingham County Farm Bureau recently delivered copies of the book to the Rincon and Springfield libraries.
“The Soil in Jackie’s Garden,” written by Peggy Thomas and illustrated by Neely Daggett, follows Jackie and her garden friends as they discover the wonders of gardening, soil secrets, and the magic of composting. They embrace the joys of planting a garden, nurturing and harvesting their own food, and recycling scraps to compost, ensuring that the “magical cycle of growth and sustainability continues anew.”
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture selected the book as its 2025 Book of the Year for its accurate and positive portrayal of agriculture.
The GFA began donating accurate books about agriculture to each public library in Georgia in 2016. Georgia EMC joined the foundation as a sponsor in 2018.
Volunteers hold 'Demo Party' to help Rincon Woman Rebuild Storm-Damaged Home
Matt Evans, owner of Centaur Home Renovations, consults with volunteer Janel Kearney while directing the demolition process. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
Mya Taylor
Updated: Aug 28, 2025, 3:11 PM
Published: Aug 28, 2025, 2:43 PM
RINCON, Ga. — Volunteers attended a “demo party” over the weekend to help demolish the interior of 82-year-old Miss Peggy’s home, which was left severely damaged by a storm years ago.
A gloomy forecast and threat of rain did not deter the group from working. When the seven volunteers arrived, they were greeted by Centaur Home Renovations owner Matt Evans, who is leading the renovations. Masks, trash bags and tools were handed out as music played from a large speaker and fans helped keep volunteers cool in the summer heat. Orange arrows painted on the walls directed workers to the areas slated for demolition.
Leigh Carter strips wallpaper as part of the interior demolition of Miss Peggy’s home during a community ‘demo party’ in Rincon. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
Leigh Carter, the first to arrive, was one of several who stripped walls and tore out drywall. Carter’s efforts go beyond renovations — she has also driven Miss Peggy to doctor’s appointments and helped her get rehoused last week at Family Promise of Effingham after a brief displacement.
“We want to get Miss Peggy back home in a safe place to live,” Carter said.
Volunteers spread out through the home, removing damaged drywall and hauling debris to a dumpster in the driveway.
“I decided to join because I thought helping somebody would be a good thing to do,” volunteer Sydney Kearney said. “I just thought it would be nice to volunteer.”
Grayson Heaton uses a crowbar to help remove damaged walls during the volunteer demolition day. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
Repairs underway
Michael’s Roofing of Meldrim completed the first major repair by rebuilding and installing a new roof. The previous roof had been damaged by a fallen tree, which led to water leaks, mildew and mold spreading through the home.
Now Evans and Centaur Home Renovations are leading the next phase of work. Evans joined volunteers in the demolition and said community support has been growing since news of Miss Peggy’s situation was first reported in the Effingham Herald.
“Since the article was first published, we’ve gotten quite a few reach-outs from people willing to donate their time,” Evans said. “We’ve also had four different dumpster companies donate dumpsters for the cause as well.”
Community organizations are also pitching in. Family Promise and the Manna House Food Pantry and Thrift Store have pledged to provide furniture and other materials once renovations are complete.
The most recent setback came when the septic tank lids collapsed, causing the system to stop working. Evans said crews are now cleaning the tank and clearing the lines.
Benny Carter tosses an old mattress into a dumpster as part of cleanup efforts at Miss Peggy’s storm-damaged home. (Mya Taylor / Effingham Herald)
What’s still needed
“After the demo is completed, we can start looking for more materials we’ll need like lumber, drywall, paint, flooring and more to get the house back together,” Evans said.
Additional materials still needed include:
25 2x4x8 studs
Four sheets of OSB sheathing
Twenty 12-foot deck boards (5/4)
Twelve 12-foot sheets of sheetrock
36-inch vanity
Two toilets
Four ceiling fans
Two bathroom fans
60-inch vanity
60-inch fiberglass tub and surround
60-inch fiberglass shower and surround
1,600 square feet of LVP flooring
36-inch exterior door
Rolls of drywall tape
Buckets of drywall mud
Bags of 20-minute drywall joint compound
100 linear feet of baseboard and quarter round
10 gallons of Kilz or Cover Stain
10–12 gallons of white paint
There is no estimated timeline for completion, as more funds and supplies are needed. The GoFundMe campaign for Miss Peggy’s home renovations has raised more than $1,400.
