Michigan Food Bank Grows its Own Fresh Produce
How do two trends — the rise of backyard vegetable gardening and the downward spiral of the economy — come together? The Family Care Network in Manton, Michigan, knows how.
The non-profit organization, which just won a $1,000 nutritional grant from the Consumer Wellness Center, will use the funds to buy the seeds and supplies it needs to plant three organic garden plots. When the harvest comes in, it will go straight to the network’s food bank for distribution to needy area seniors and families … giving them, as the Consumer Wellness Center says, “fresh produce instead of the typical canned and processed foods donated to food banks.”
But, wait, there’s more:
Instead of just providing struggling residents with fresh fruits and vegetables, the Family Care Network will also help recipients learn how to grow their own food. And, along with gardening instructions, the network also plans to offer nutrition classes with tips for cooking healthy meals and making the most of a tight household food budget.
Last year, the network’s gardens helped to feed more than 50 local families, providing them with everything from carrots and potatoes to tomatoes, basil and watermelon.
Network director Kristina Wood says she started the program after volunteering in a local food pantry and realizing how little nutritional information was provided to families in need.
“I was seeing all kinds of ailments from respiratory to diabetes and even cancer,” she told NaturalNews, the Consumer Wellness Center’s online publication. “In the children, I saw chronic allergies, ADD/ADHD and autism. All these conditions can be improved with proper nutrition. Knowing what I do about food, it became increasingly difficult to ‘bless’ those in need with food that I knew would harm them. So, I did something about it.”
What a great effort. If only more people would also decided to “do something.” Way to go, Kristina.
You can read more about the network and learn about the Consumer Wellness Center at NaturalNews.
What an awesome initiative! I wonder if Atlanta Community Food Bank does something like this!