By: Michela May Photo Provided By GROW Local South Texas
The Learning Garden at Tom Graham Park has always been a neighborhoodbrfavorite, where anyone can learn about gardening and help take care of thebrcommunity garden. This group has hosted endless learningbrprograms from summer camps to open houses on Tuesday mornings, providingbreducation for all ages.
brbr
And, on Thursday mornings they continue to give back.
brbr
The Learning Garden has kicked up their Donation-Based FarmbrStand for the summer to anyone who wants some fresh, homegrown produce. Our local DowntownbrFarmers Market will be providing some of their own native goods from thebrprevious day’s weekly market event. Local farmers and back yard gardeners willbralso be contributing to the farm stand. Anyone can donate by giving theirbroverstock to The Donation Based Farm Stand. All you have to do is bring it by that morning andbrtalk with a staff member. Those donating can also trade for anything atbrthe stand that day!
brbr
These community events are run by GROW Local South Texas,brwhich was established to in 2013 to give resources, help educate, and givebreveryone access to affordable and healthy food options. Not only do theybrprovide these weekly markets, but they have monthly workshops, an annual gardenbrparty, and host farm to table dinners that anyone can attend. Their mission is makingbrsure the community has fresh foods with dense amounts of nutrients, all at anbraffordable price.
brbr
The Learning Garden has been a part of this mission by supportingbra take what you want and leave what you can program! The event is held weekly all year, but some growing seasons can have a limited selection due to things such as weather conditions or holidays. However, the summer growth has started to kick up, andbrthe fall months generally have the widest range of locally grown goods. So, makebrsure to check it out during these up-coming months!
brbr
Any left-over produce from Thursday’s donation-based farmbrstand will then be given to the Coastal Bend Food Bank. Nothing will go to wastebrhere and all the proceeds made from donations will go towards The LearningbrGarden to fund their educational programs.
brbr
If you wish to visit and see everything the community gardenbrhas to offer, the Donation Based Farm Stand is held from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM every Thursday. Located at 3808 Up River Rd. at Tom Graham Park,brthis program is open to everyone!
brbrFor more information,brvisit the GROW Local South Texas Facebook page or go to growlocalstx.com
