On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA August-September 2016 | Page 27

GWA FOUNDATION TRAVELS TO NEW YORK, ATLANTA FOR GRO1000 DEDICATIONS BY A S H L E Y H O D A K S U L L I VA N The GWA Foundation team wrapped up 2016 Miracle-Gro Gro1000 activities with garden dedications in New York and Atlanta. On June 2, the Foundation team headed to the Pleasant Village Community Garden in East Harlem, New York for its Gro1000 garden dedication. The community garden effectively functions as a non-profit co-operative, providing food for more than 200 community residents. In addition to the edible garden, the property has a chicken coop that provides eggs to the community. Surplus eggs are sold and the revenue is poured back into maintaining the garden. The day featured educational activities for more than 100 elementary school kids, including making wildflower-seed mud bombs and pollinator feeders. ATLANTA ACTIVITIES On June 17, the team was in Atlanta for community activities at Atlanta Fire Station 28 and Covenant House of Georgia, a residence that supports homeless teens. As part of several projects funds by the grants, edible gardens were established at local firehouses. The gardens provide an excellent source of fresh edibles for firefighters and their communities, emphasizing the importance of healthy eating. On the day of the garden dedications, volunteers built a raised garden bed in the shape of 28 to honor the firehouse. The team then visited Covenant House for a special presentation to mark the dedication of its Gro1000 garden. Residents grow their own edible plants, which they sell at local farmers markets. As part of the presentation, residents were recognized for their accomplishments in the Covenant House program. With 2016 activities concluded, the Gro1000 program will begin planning for 2017; applications for grants will open in the coming months. To learn more about the program, Above: Covenant House residents, partners and Atlanta’s first lady Sarah Elizabeth Kristan Reed participated in the dedication of its Gro1000 garden. Below right: At Pleasant Village Community Garden in East Harlem, New York’s Gro1000 garden dedication, school children made their own pollinator costumes and learned about bringing pollen back to the hive. please visit www.gro1000.com. For questions about the GWA Foundation’s partnership with Gro1000, please contact Ashley Hodak Sullivan at 212-297-2198 or [email protected]. Ashley Hodak Sullivan is deputy executive director for GWA. 27