The Capital Area Food Bank is growing, and by that we mean the garden-variety type of growing! Our NOVA branch has recently planted a garden of beautiful native plants with the help of Healthy Eating Educator Abbie Steiner, an expert in all things green, other staff and volunteers.
There are several long-term goals for this garden. By design, the garden will be a serene space for staff, volunteers and partners to enjoy. Flowers, berries and color-changing leaves will provide beautiful scenery year-round, even in winter!
When spring arrives, it will become a demonstration garden, where partner agencies learn growing fruits, vegetables and herbs from the ground up is simple and economical. They then may pass this knowledge and the tasty sprigs of fresh flavor along to the clients they serve.
Finally, in addition to including native plants, which are hardy non-invasive, and provide food and habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects like Monarch butterflies; we will use our garden for “green” environmental stewardship by recycling rainwater from the roof in rain barrels to irrigate our garden and conserve water.
Interested in getting involved with the food bank’s Northern Virginia Demonstration Garden initiative? Connect with Ileana Vink either by email at ivink@capitalareafoodbank.org or by calling 703-541-3063, ext. 780 to learn more.