“We figured out how to turn a mess into a miracle,” said Sammy Allen, one of the graduates.

The students, with help from Berrien County Land Bank, cleared dying trees, brush and bricks and cut down 3-foot-tall grass. The unsightly space has given way to neat rectangular raised beds built by the classes.

Called Opportunity Farm, the half-block piece of tax-forfeited land at Garfield and Ohio streets will be ready for spring planting. Twenty-nine wood-framed raised beds, each 12 feet by 4 feet, contain fresh soil.

Vegetables and ornamental plants grown that will be grown on the property are to be sold at the Benton Harbor Farmers Market using a business model the students are designing.

Jeannette Holton, manager of adult education at The Opportunity Center, which provides education and employment services in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties, commended the students.

“It looked a little desperate,” she said. “But you transformed it. We congratulate you today for your learning and your doing.”

Andrea Grabemeyer, who directs the center, said the urban farm project benefits students but also the community.

“Not only does it provide hands-on, real-world training for our students, but we’ll be growing nutritious food that will be made available to local families,” she said.

The part of the property to be used to grow vegetables has been fenced, and Benton Harbor has agreed to run water lines, although the program is responsible for paying for water.

The agricultural technology course, which runs six weeks, and Opportunity Farm were funded with scholarships from the Consortium for Community Development and a grant from the Delta Foundation. Sixteen people enrolled in the last two classes and they ranged in age from young adult to senior citizen.

Holton said the class is for people who are unemployed and not ready academically for college. Some have high school diplomas or GEDs and some do not, she said.

The Land Bank contributed by allowing free use of the land, which was once occupied by houses. The entire block, except for two parcels, was forfeited to the Berrien County treasurer for nonpayment of property taxes. The property was later acquired by the Land Bank for possible redevelopment.

County Treasurer Bret Witkowski, who attended the dedication, said the property will be available for use as Opportunity Farm for the foreseeable future.

“We’ve been looking for an organization to do something like this for four or five years,” Witkowski said. “We hope this can be an example, not just for the city of Benton Harbor but for the state.”