Lancaster General Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute is teaming up with Lighten Up Lancaster County to increase access to fresh produce for area residents.
“If you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you are more likely to eat them,” said Brenda Buescher, Health Promotion specialist.
Now in its fifth year, the initiative is providing raised-bed garden starter kits to local schools and non-profits. These kits are free to schools and non-profit organizations who are interested in expanding or starting a garden. Schools and non-profit organizations in Lancaster County can apply online to receive the lumber, hardware and soil for two raised beds.
Buescher added that the kits also include “a 100-foot garden hose, watering cans, buckets, shovels, trowels and gardening gloves.”
Recipients of the raised beds are then connected to an extensive network of garden experts and have access to gardening resources and are encouraged to use the produce for taste-testing and meals at their organization, share the produce with the community, and donate extra produce to local organizations.