On Sunday, May 21, Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski and Groundwork Market Garden will be hosting the 3rd Annual Plant Sale & Giveaway Event, which was originally scheduled to be held this Saturday. Due to inclement weather, the event will be held on Sunday, from 10am-2pm. A number of community partners and vendors will be on-hand at the free, family-friendly event, to help guide community members towards becoming more self-sufficient via planting their own edible gardens.
At the giveaway, two free plants will be allocated per household, as a way for Fillmore neighborhood residents to start building the garden of their dreams. Certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower plants will also be for sale. Attendees from neighborhoods throughout the region can purchase plants, using cash, credit, or SNAP benefits.
More than ever, teaching people how to cultivate their own vegetables is of utmost importance. Not only do these plants yield produce to sustain healthier eating habits, the act of growing one’s own food is very rewarding.
“Since the tragedy that ensued on May 14th, there has been a spotlight shone on food security on the East Side,” said Mayda Pozantides, Co-founder & Farmer at Groundwork Market Garden. “For years we’ve seen the cost of food going up and how fragile our food systems can be. Building local food security means supporting area farms, and also encouraging individuals to grow their own food at home. You can buy a quart of tomatoes or a tomato plant for about the same price, but one will give you food all summer long. There is a joy and a sense of independence in growing your own food, and that’s what we want to share.”
Last year, the event brought in hundreds of people and over 2,000 vegetable plants were given away.
“With plants producing on average 6 lbs of produce, that’s 12,000 lbs of food & tens of thousands of dollars saved at the grocery store. A small seed can create a large impact,” said Anders Gunnersen, co-founder at Groundwork Market Garden.
Building on last year’s success, the event will carry out the same mission with even more community partners, vendors, and offerings.
“We want to send folks away with plants and give them the tools they need to be successful growers. Many of our partners will be offering free information and resources about soil safety, pest and disease management, plus recipes and tips for harvest and storage. It’s about setting people up for success,” said Pozantides.
The event will host a number of partners such Field and Fork Network, who will be signing folks up for Double Up Food Bucks, a NYS program that matches SNAP benefits dollar for dollar on purchases of fresh fruit and veggies. There will be kids’ activities, food, music and more. A full list of partners can be found on the event FB page.
For more information on Groundwork Market Garden, contact groundworkmg@gmail.com or visit accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and their website.
The post Group Encourages Residents to Grow Their Own Food via a Plant Sale & Giveaway Event appeared first on Buffalo Rising.