The 5th annual Green Bay Garden Blitz is coming up in a couple weeks, and event organizers are looking for volunteers to help continue building a sustainable, urban agricultural system in our community.
Karli Norton got involved with the project, because she wants to empower her neighbors to grow their own food and eat healthier.
"I don't really want to see people eating fast food all the time you know."
Norton is the communication coordinator for the Green Bay Garden Blitz. It's a program created through a partnership between New Leaf Foods and the Brown County UW-Extension.
"You know their main goal is to give residents of Green Bay their own food and that sustainability. It's heartwarming," said Norton.
The Green Bay Garden Blitz is a four day event where volunteers build 4x8 foot garden boxes and then deliver them to people across the city. They also fill them with soil and offer advice to get the new growers started.
"Some people want to know where their food is coming from. Some people want to help foot their grocery bill. Some people just want to learn how to garden," explained Norton.
In the past four years, 476 raised garden beds have been installed through the Green Bay Garden Blitz. The Brown County Central Library in downtown Green Bay was one of the first recipients.
"The garden is a great hands-on opportunity to look at things like colors and counting and the 5 senses and motor skills, digging, and tie those programs into books that we relate to the topic that we're doing," said Library Youth Services Coordinator Sandy Kallunki.
To make more educational opportunities like this possible, Green Bay Garden Blitz coordinators are looking for more volunteers to make this year's event another success. Norton said the hard work is worth it when you see the reactions on delivery day.
"To see the look on everyone's faces. Sometimes it's parents and then they have their children out. They're just so excited about what they're going to plant. It's great."
Knowing you can help others become a green thumb is reward enough for Norton.
"I don't care what age you are, it's fun to see something that you started from seed, and now it's this beautiful tomato, or corn, or flowers. It's rewarding, and you get a sense of joy."
The Green Bay Garden Blitz is May 3rd through May 6th. They need about 100 volunteers to deliver the 100 boxes. Click here to sign-up to help.
If you would like to purchase a garden box for delivery, the order deadline is Monday, April 23rd. They cost $175 dollars a piece.
