Did you know that Inter-Faith Food Shuttle can build you a raised-bed garden box? Growing your own produce at home is an excellent way to ensure your family has access to fresh, healthy food throughout the year at an affordable cost. Besides providing you with a nutritious harvest, the process of gardening also promotes physical exercise and mental relaxation. The Food Shuttle’s Gardens for Everyone program can help you get started.
This community gardening program provides you with 4’ x 8’ x 20” raised-bed garden boxes filled with nutrient-rich soil and seeds right at home. Our team consists of volunteers and garden staff, Phoebe Rivenbark and Lynn Conyers, who start by coming to assess your yard in advance. They will help you locate the perfect spot in your yard that will have the best access to sunlight and water. The day of building, they begin at our farm by cutting the wood to meet the required measurements needed. They then load their truck with all their equipment and head over to the destination. Soon after the unloading, the building begins. Within just a few hours, your raised bed is ready for you to garden in!
Recently, we had the pleasure of building two garden beds for gardener Carmen. She enjoys gardening indoors and outdoors and was so excited when she learned about our “Gardens for Everyone” program. Carmen said, “This is great. I can already see my son and me picking our tomatoes as they grow.” This is something that Carmen has looked forward to ever since she and her family relocated to Clayton, North Carolina.
Gardens for Everyone started in the early days of COVID-19 as people spent more time in their homes, finding ways to pass the time as they remained in quarantine. Being able to provide neighbors with healthy produce right in their backyard was a perfect opportunity to expand access to food. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has been able to continue this program and has built over 400 beds since then.
The program relies heavily on volunteers to operate successfully. Volunteering opportunities are available for everyone who enjoys being outdoors. Building a raised bed can certainly be hard work but no experience is needed. For those who are interested in volunteering with us, you can find more information about the program here.
Gardens for Everyone is for anyone interested in having a home garden in Wake, Durham, Johnston, Orange, Chatham, Nash, and Edgecomb counties. Applications are taken on a first come first served basis, so plan now for Spring. If you are interested in having a Gardens for Everyone raised-bed box built at your home or organization, you can easily apply online. Applications are accepted all year round.