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LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN GROWS FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY
RICHMOND, VA – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is continuing its fight against hunger by dedicating an entire garden to growing vegetables this summer for FeedMore, the umbrella organization for the Central Virginia Foodbank and Meals on Wheels Serving Central Virginia. Called the “Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter,” it covers one fifth of an acre with a goal of collecting more than 10,000 pounds of fresh produce by the end of the growing season.
The announcement comes at a time when food banks across the country, including FeedMore, are experiencing unprecedented demands.
The project feels like a natural fit to Garden executive director Frank Robinson. “Our mission is to show how plants are essential to human life. This new garden demonstrates those words in action.”
The Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter complements the “Plant a Row for the Hungry” initiative started by the national Garden Writers Association in 1995. “Plant a Row” supplies fresh produce to food banks by encouraging gardeners to plant extra rows of crops and donate the harvest. For the past three growing seasons, the Children’s Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has participated by growing and donating more than 500 pounds of fresh produce each summer to the Central Virginia Foodbank.
In 2011, the Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter is supported in part with a $15,000 grant from The CarMax Foundation and by the generosity of the Genworth Foundation and the Richard Gwathmey and Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust.
Photos, video & more: The Community Kitchen Garden in 2011
Photos, video & more: The Community Kitchen Garden 2010
Highlights from 2009:
- 2009: Follow the progess through photos and blog entries from last year
- 2009: Learn more about what happened on "Planting Day" last year
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FeedMore is the umbrella organization that brings together the Central Virginia Foodbank, Meals on Wheels and Community Kitchen.
The new Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter will be approximately 8,000 square feet (1/5 of an acre). Planting will begin May 8. What will the garden grow? Tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash are at the top of the list. See the progress below and read about it from a volunteer's perspective:
Community Kitchen Garden supporters
The following suporters have donated time, services, product and monitary support to the Community Kitchen Garden:
A & J Rowe Excavating
Cavalier International
C.T. Purcell, Inc.
Jones Flowers
BLOGS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN GARDEN AT LEWIS GINTER
Plans for Planting; April 23, 2009
Breaking Ground'; April 16, 2009
Planting Day a Success; May 15, 2009
Girl Power Gets It Done; May 20, 2009
Look What's Growing: June 4, 2009
Weeds & Bugs; June 12, 2009
Tomato Suckers and More!; June 18, 2009
United We Serve: June 28, 2009
First Harvest; July 14, 2009
Home Demo Garden; July 23, 2009
A Special Report: The "Vegetable Food Chain"; August 10, 2009
Two-Thirds Toward the Goal; August 27, 2009
So Long Summer, Hello Fall!; September 16, 2009
Get Ready for Spring; October 13, 2009
PHOTOS OF THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN GARDEN AT LEWIS GINTER
Winding Down the Season: Oct. 26, 2009
Activity has slowed, but not stopped! The COmmunity Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter is still producing (see cabbages left.) The garden will be planted with a cover crop for the winter.
Getting Closer!: July 30, 2009
Another 345 pounds was harvested from the Community Kitchen Garden. The harvest included squash, zuchini, red peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes. Just one step closer to our goal!
Media Coverage: July 22, 2009
NBC-12 shoots B-roll of the Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter for an editorial. A fourth delivery to FeedMore has increased the poundage to 2,014 (working toward the 10,000 pound goal.)
We Deliver: July 13, 2009
Garden staff Karen Clowers (left) and Darlene Van Laan (right) deliver fresh produce from the Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter to FeedMore. Donated to date: 1,336 pounds; only 8,664 pounds to go to reach the 10,000 pound goal!
First Harvest; June 29, 2009
For the first harvest,Garden volunteers and staff collected more than 604 pounds of fresh produce to feed the hungry through FeedMore.
United We Serve; June 22, 2009
As part of President Obama's United We Serve Initiative, voluteers from the Department of Social Services in the Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter.
Watch Us Grow!: June 16, 2009
One month after Planting Day -- the Community Kitchen Garden is well on its way thanks to hard work by Garden staff and volunteers.
Planting Day: May 14, 2009
Nearly 100 people came out to help plant the new Community Kitchen Garden, including children from New Direction Daycare, Garden staff, volunteers and board members, FeedMore staff, volunteers and board members,and community VIPs.
Amending the Soil
Organic material is worked into the soil (4.28.09) Many thanks to Pete Rose for discounted organic material and delivery.) Photo: Karen Clowers
Getting Ready
The soil has been turned up and now organic matter will be worked in. Planting Day set for mid-May.
(4.27.09)
A "Ground-breaking" Day
April 13, 2009
Heavy equipment breaks ground for the new Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter. Many thanks to CT Purcell, Inc., for donation of machinery and manpower. (4.13.09)
Directors "Dig" New Garden
Feedmore President/CEO Fay Lohr (left) and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Executive Director Frank Robinson help break ground on the Community Kitchen Garden (4.13.09)
Planning a Garden
A late March 2009 view shows the site for the new Community Kitchen Garden behind the Conservatory in an area currently used for production.
Marking the Spot
Red flags mark the rough layout for the crescent-shaped Community Kitchen Garden. (Late March 2009)
