Did you know that this growing season, our Food Pantry garden has given several of our guests their own garden plots, complete with a volunteer mentor? Participants keep some of the produce, and give some back to the Food Pantry to share with other guests. This teaching garden is underway, and here is what one participant said about the opportunity:
Why am I in the MOM Garden Program, and what I hope to gain from it?
I like being in touch with nature and getting dirty and watching plants grow. I feel blessed to have my own dirt to bond with my plants.
I also like to eat foods that I grew myself and know there are no pesticides in or on them and get the full vitamin count as well.
I like the whole process of gardening. The planning, the soil preparation, the planting and mulching, and of course weeding is very important. I look at gardening as a way of recycling, CO2, mulch, beauty, contributes to a healthy body and mind and spirit.
I don’t take mother nature for granted and am thankful for sunshine so the plants grow.
I look forward to a good balance of rain and sunshine for a good crop yield.
I like the community effort we all pull together having the same mission and enjoy learning together. Community gardening helps build team effort and creates friendships.
And most of all, lots of great food is generated to eat and contribute to the MOM’s food pantry which takes good care of so many families that don’t have the luxury of gardening.
I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to grow my own garden and helping contribute food to the pantry.
I value the Garden Coordinator’s knowledge and enthusiasm and effort to help us, and thank the owner of this land as well.
-LJ
