Monday, September 15, 2008

Harvest Celebration


As you may know, Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports approximately fifty community gardens throughout the City of Buffalo. Most of the gardens are in low to moderate-income areas, primarily on the city’s East and West Sides. In a city with increasing amounts of open space due to demolition of vacant houses, these gardens are becoming increasingly important, due to their ability to create community, grow food and beautify the city.

There are many success stories that have sprung from our gardens, but the one that I would like to share with you is that of “Zeke’s Garden.” This community garden is named after our founder, Milton Zeckhauser, and is maintained by the Food Bank of Western New York. At this garden a diverse group of people receiving food aid—including many immigrant families, have the opportunity to grow ethnic and native food-producing plants of their choosing. It is truly a sight to see these different groups working together with their family members towards a common purpose. Zeke’s garden is an example of how community gardens empower the disenfranchised by enabling them to put food on the table through their own hard work.

Grassroots Gardens is working to build more gardens to give people in need the power to grow their own food and stay healthy. We are having our second annual fundraiser, the “Harvest Celebration” on Thursday October 16th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum at 453 Porter Ave. There will be hors d’oeuvres, beverages and raffles. Admission is $25.00 for members and $30.00 for non-members.

Each new garden costs approximately $2,500 to implement, check out the Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo website for more information at http://www.grassrootsgardens.org/

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