By Jasmyne Ray | The Selma Times-Journal

Because of impending bad weather and other setbacks, The Blackbelt Benefit Group is cancelling this Saturday’s barbecue to benefit the Mill Village Community Garden and Food Park.

All proceeds from the barbecue would have benefited the Grow Selma community garden.

“It’s just something we had to do,” said Clay Carmichael, who helped organized the event.

Up to two inches of rain is expected Friday, which would have made for a wet and muddy garden.

At this point, it’s uncertain when the event will be rescheduled. Carmichael mentioned the possibility of having it in the fall, or just waiting until next spring to have the event again.

“We actually kind of planned on taking June off after we ran so hard these last couple of months,” Carmichael said.

Over the past five weeks, the Blackbelt Benefit Group and Grow Selma have worked more than five events, including their Rock ‘N’ Ribs benefit.

Carmichael says last year’s barbecue had a great turnout.

“We raised five or six hundred dollars,” Carmichael said. “And that was before we had done anything with the garden.”

The plan for Saturday was to sell barbecue plates and for those in attendance to take part in classes on fruit tree grafting and fermenting.