Manna Food Gardens

BWB is partnering with Manna Food Gardens to assist with the expansion of their school gardens program.  Their ability to stretch resources is exactly what BWB looks for.  With the $250 of community money Manna Food Garden will be able to build up to 3 new school gardens!

Contact: sarah@mannafoodpantries.org

In 2005 a Category 4 hurricane offered a unique opportunity to take food distribution to the next level by leaving an empty concrete lot where a food warehouse once stood.  15 raised garden beds were built on the lot and where planted with vegetables in an effort to supplement the non-perishables with fresh produce.  Volunteers plant seeds, maintain the beds, and harvest the vegetables for distribution, and because the food is grown on-site there is no need for storage and the vegetables are as fresh as they can be when they are distributed.

After the initial success of the slab garden, it quickly became clear that educational outreach should be the next step.  Give a man a carrot, feed him for a day; teach him to plant a garden, feed him for a lifetime.  If we could educate people about gardening and give them an opportunity to grow their own food we could decrease the demand on the food bank and empower people to rely on their own skills and hard work to feed themselves and their families.  We strive to engage the community in positive activity that will not only put food on the plate but give people the sense of accomplishment and responsibility that go hand-in-hand with tending a garden.  We achieve these goals by developing school and community gardens, and by offering events and classes where we bring people together to learn home gardening tips.