For the past ten years, the GRACE Community Garden has not only been a source of fresh produce for the local community, but it also serves as an educational resource. With 12 garden plots producing up to 2,500 pounds of organically grown produce a year, it helps supply much-needed nutrients to GRACE families. This year is looking to be a great one for the garden as mother nature has been on our side with ample growing weather!
In honor of Earth Day, it only seemed fitting to take a look at what our green-thumbs in the GRACE Community Garden have been up to this spring.
As with most activities at GRACE, it’s the volunteers who do the heavy lifting, scooping, raking, and shoveling that gets the job done. Master Gardener Caryn Hutchinson assisted by Robert “Bob” Dansby and Becca Clarke and many more have put so much time and attention to make sure the garden lives on year after year.
Summer is a great time for our clients who shop at the GRACE Food Pantry. The Community Gardens yield loads of fresh produce ranging from tomatoes and squash to cucumbers and okra. Clients enjoy cooking healthy family meals using the Gardens’ peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, kale, potatoes, radishes, parsley, rosemary, eggplant, beans, okra, tomatillos, watermelon, and more.
We are always in need of volunteers for this fun and rewarding activity so even if you’re new to gardening – sign up, make friends and enjoy helping provide nutritious food for our community.
Volunteers need not have prior gardening experience, said Becca. “We demonstrate, teach, and work side-by-side with the volunteers.” Not only will volunteers receive personal training in the art of gardening from a Master Gardener, some bring their school-age children with them and garden together as a family.
To learn how you can be involved with the garden, please email volunteer@gracegrapevine.org
