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 year for FeedMore serving the Central Virginia Foodbank and Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia.

Beginning its 5th year in 2013, the Community Kitchen Garden is dedicated to growing fresh produce for FeedMore’s Meals on Wheels and Kids Cafe programs. Last year, the staff and volunteers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden harvested and donated 12,454 lbs. of vegetables to FeedMore’s Community Kitchen and produced an estimated 9,580 meals for Central Virginia’s hungry children and homebound seniors.

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 compliments 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.

Here's what's happinging at the Community Kitchen Garden this year:

Children from FeedMore's Kids Cafe location at Capital Childcare plant red potatoes, peas and radishes --vegetables that, once harvested, will be used by FeedMore to prepare meals for these very same children.