“We Grow a Garden, We Grow in Health”

June2016_GardenFifteen guests attended our “We Grow a Garden, We Grow in Health” presentation led by Stephen H
ugh, AFC patient representative on the Board of Directors, and Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) volunteer gardener, on May 11th in partnership with the AFAC and its Plot Against Hunger program. AFC patients and AFAC clients learned about gardening, how to make a small container garden for growing microgreens, the nutritional value of their planting, and discussed various recipe ideas for using their microgreens in healthy and affordable family meals. Participants discussed topics such as what “organic” means, and contributed their own gardening stories. One patient, for example, told about her family’s experience cultivating a “milpa” (corn field). Others spoke about attempts at growing cilantro in a window box and tips about growing yucca.

After the presentation, refreshments were enjoyed using microgreens as an ingredient. Radishes and beets were a favorite! We hope to be able to offer more gardening programs with our patients as part of our Wellness program.