A total of four community agencies and area businesses, together with three Erie County Master Gardener Volunteers, are partnering to provide research-based education and a hands-on experience that will build confidence in growing food. Barnes Nursery, Corso’s, Care & Share, and OHGo are collectively providing the soil, plants, and students for this pilot project. The target audience are the clients who receive food from these two food banks. “We are delighted for the Master Garden Volunteers to do a project like this” said Anita Kromer of Care & Share. Joe Ramey of Barnes Nursery said: “We thought it would be a great way to give back. It is in our realm and we strongly support it.”

Master Gardener Volunteer Gaye Harris-Miles was the inspiration behind the project and is the co-instructor. “The food bank recipients are enthusiastic to learn, and we hope that this experience will encourage each one to grow more food in the future, and to inspire neighbors, family and friends to learn how to grow food as well” stated Master Gardener Volunteer Kathryn Goerig-Eastlake. She is a co-instructor along with Master Gardener Volunteer David Eastlake assisting as well.

At the sessions, Master Gardeners are teaching good gardening practices regarding the features of a container garden, and what vegetables can be grown in one. Future sessions will include participants selecting vegetables for their container, and discussions about healthy plant requirements, pest management and backyard wildlife management.

This project will conclude with each student planting their chosen plants in a 5-gallon bucket and taking it home to set on their porch or stoop to manage and finally to eat the produce that their plants will provide. Corso’s are donating the plants.

“We love that our participants were given the opportunity to learn how to grow food in their communities and homes, without needing too much space to do it. We believe it will increase vegetable consumption, and has potential to significantly supplement their diets,” said Christine Boesch, OHGo.