Urban Community Garden Project
Meals-on-Wheels Fresh Initiative Garden Project
Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc. (MOWGSD) recently unveiled its Fresh Initiative Garden Project at their Old Town Administration Building located at 2254 San Diego Avenue, San Diego this week. The gardens will honor the individual funders and community partners that made the $200,000 improvement project possible, including a $100,000 grant from the Birdwell Family Foundation that was matched by a small group of philanthropic individuals. The project included cosmetic renovations, as well as major exterior improvements, to the MOWGSD Administration Building that had sustained major structural damage from overgrown, destructive landscaping.
The new design includes a productive, on-site urban, edible garden with fruit trees, herbs and spices to be used in the agency’s fresh meal preparation, helping to reduce overall costs. MOWGSD delivered meals to nearly 3,200 homebound seniors in 2015 within 48 San Diego County communities. With the total number of meals delivered in 2016 estimated to be near half a million, finding ways to control costs while handling increased client need is crucial. Besides supplementing meals, the gardens will also help lower water usage and maintenance needs of the property.
The Fresh Initiative Urban Community Garden Project is also recruiting green thumb enthusiasts and local garden club members to help with the gardens, as well as instill a passion for gardening with local school children through Jeanne’s Garden Program for Children. Students will be planting and caring for some of the herbs, fruit and spices being grown on site, making the garden a true intergenerational endeavor.
Besides supplementing meals, the gardens will also help lower water usage and maintenance needs of the property.
A unique option for the community is the ability to be the benefactor of the garden. Individuals, families, businesses and community groups can sponsor garden plants and trees which will help maintain and sustain the garden. This is also a lovely way to make a donation in-memory or in-honor-of a loved one and/or a local senior. Options for sponsorship are available that will allow the donors names and contributions to be recognized throughout the garden.
“It is our vision to engage a myriad of ages in monthly activities around gardening, sustainability, low-water productive landscaping, as well as educate others on the benefits of eating fresh, nutritious meals, said Debbie Case, president & CEO, Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego. This is a wonderful new opportunity for the community to engage with Meals-on-Wheels, especially if they are unable to help deliver meals that often limits volunteering to a 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. time frame.”
Those interested in helping or sponsoring garden plantings should contact: Barb Fiorina at (619) 278-4047 or bfiorina@meals-on-wheels.org.
Category: Local News
