Garden at World’s First Food Bank to Fight Hunger on Earth Day

Valley Landscaper to plant Kitchen Gardens at St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix on April 22, 2009

Phoenix, Ariz. – Just as Americans planted Victory Gardens across the country in World War I and II to replenish food resources, one valley garden and landscape provider will be planting a “Kitchen Garden” at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the world’s first food bank, to raise awareness of how each individual can make a difference – literally in their own backyard – during today’s challenging economic times.

Sustainably Yours Garden Management (SYGM), a green garden and landscape provider driven by self-reliant and ecologically sound principles, has been appointed the official Phoenix advocate for the National Garden Writer’s Association’s (GWA) “Plant a Row” Earth Day Campaign to feed the hungry.

On Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, SYGM will plant “Kitchen Gardens” at St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance’s main facility at 2831 N. 31^st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009 from 7-10:00 a.m.

“If the over 70 million gardeners in the U.S. plant one extra row of veggies and donate the surplus to food banks,” says Bobby Smith, Proprietor and Sustainability Coach of SYGM.  “We can fight hunger all over the world.  Using only organic compost and plants, the food grown at St. Mary’s Food Bank will provide the hungry-in-need the natural, vitamin- and mineral-rich foods our bodies are starving for.”

“Economically challenging times such as these are times when our community needs food donations more than ever,” said Terry Shannon, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.  “Sustainably Yours’ Kitchen Gardens raises awareness of how each individual can make a difference literally in their own backyard.”

Reclaimed wine barrels will be planted with 100 percent organic compost made using SYGM’s proprietary recipe of green waste scraps such as coffee grinds, pineapple tops and egg shells.  Organic summer vegetable and herbs that will be planted include: artichokes, pasilla peppers, crimson sweet watermelon, honeydew, giant radishes, okra, zucchini, cucumbers, yellow squash, mustard greens, basil, oregano, thyme and parsley.

SYGM’s “Kitchen Gardens” at St. Mary’s Food Bank will yield a 45-day supply of food that is equivalent to $1,500 of produce according to Smith.  “The cost savings of a 10′ x 10′ backyard food garden, for example, can feed a family of four for a year,” he adds.

Submitted on behalf of Sustainably Yours Garden Management
Sustainably Yours Garden Management (SYGM) is a green garden and landscape provider with the mission to “bring the life cycle back to our tables” through self-reliant and ecologically sound principles.  Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., SYGM is committed to helping solve our nation’s pressing environmental and hunger problems through the act of gardening.  Home gardening is about living lighter on the land; it is about the values of thrift and economy; and it is about simplicity and beauty and self-sufficiency.  For more information about SYGM, visit www.sustainablyyou.com

About St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the world’s first food bank, is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization that alleviates hunger by efficiently gathering and distributing food to 534 sites that serve the hungry.  Serving 13 of Arizona’s 15 counties, the organization is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, and is committed to volunteerism, building community relationships, and improving the quality of life for Arizonans in need. During Fiscal Year 2007-2008, the Food Bank distributed 43.4 million pounds of food to families and individuals, provided enough food for 200,000 meals every day, and garnered more than 230,000 volunteer service hours. Web site: www.FirstFoodBank.org Phone: 602-242-FOOD. 

About Garden Writer’s National “Plant a Row” Earth Day Campaign
Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) program is administered by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.  PAR is a people-helping-people program to help feed the hungry in local neighborhoods and communities.  The initiative encourages gardeners to plant one extra row of produce and/or herbs in their garden and donate the surplus to local soup kitchens and food pantries serving the homeless and hungry.  Since 1995, American gardeners have donated over 14 million pounds of herbs and vegetables to feed the hungry. For more information, visit www.gardenwriters.org/.

Technorati Tags: Arizona, Earth Day, Garden Writers Association Foundation, Phoenix, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, Sustainably Yours Garden Management