GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — The 9th annual New Leaf Garden Blitz is underway in Green Bay. Every year, the event aims to empower Green Bay residents to practice sustainability by growing their own food. Over the past 8 years, local non-profit New Leaf Foods has installed almost 800 gardens in schools, pantries, shelters, and homes.
Over the course of one weekend, garden boxes are built, installed, and filled with soil by volunteer teams. In addition to their garden boxes, new gardeners are offered a variety of educational opportunities, including a mentorship program which matches experienced gardeners with new growers.
The mission of this year's garden blitz is to empower immigrant families, including those from Afghan, Hispanic, Hmong and Somali backgrounds. The non-profit sold out of garden boxes for the year and will install 80 garden beds over the course of the event from May 12-15th.
For the first time this year, New Leaf Foods is partnering with Wild Ones, a non-profit that aims to educate the public about the benefits of restoring and preserving the biodiversity of native plant communities. Wild Ones is selling pollinator plant kits that are available in sunny and shady varieties and 3 different sizes to fit any yard. Prices range from $18-70 and come with a professionally designed garden plan. The kits can be picked up at the New Leaf Garden Blitz box construction site at 23 Elkay Lane.
"I think the whole idea of New Leaf Foods and mentoring people and getting them started with vegetable gardens, that's very special. Especially in urban areas where they may not have access to a lot of good produce," said Nancy Kusch, a volunteer with Wild Ones.
To learn how you can volunteer with New Leaf Foods, you can visit newleaffoods.org/volunteer.
