They’re Here

by Albert Brian Vick  Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Community Kitchen Garden Coordinator

Note:  Brian Vick, has volunteered at the Community Kitchen Garden  since early spring.  He’s done such a fabulous job, that this week, the Garden hired him as the Community Kitchen Garden Coordinator.  He’ll be helping a team of volunteers from HandsOn Greater  Richmond, weed, water, harvest in the Community Kitchen Garden, which hopes to grow 10,000 lbs of food for FeedMore’s Central Virginia FoodBank and Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia. Then, he’ll plan the fall garden, and lead the volunteers in  plant, weed, water, harvesting all again! Look for more blog posts from Brian as he continues to keep us updated on the harvest & how it is prepared for tables all over the Richmond Region.  Brian also has his own blog, where he features posts about music, gardening, photography and his other passions, including the Community Kitchen Garden.  This article first appeared on his blog.

Beefsteak variety - and no, I don't have particularly small hands. photo by Albert Brian Vick

The first bushels of tomatoes were picked tomatoes were picked Saturday, July 2 at the  Community Kitchen Garden. That was accomplished – and a load of other work — thanks to the Tyler family: Sheryl, Casey, Lindsay & Brennan. Besides harvesting tomatoes and zucchini, the gang did a ton of mulching and pulled several wheelbarrows full of monster weeds. Those folks had determination, focus and grit. Just in time, because the Community Kitchen needs 75 pounds of tomatoes this week.  Sign up to volunteer through HandsOn Greater Richmond, come on out & do some light garden work before visiting the rest of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

The Tyler family's harvest for the Lewis Ginter Community Kitchen Garden. (Un-manipulated photo -- I know, the bright colors hurt my eyes too.) photo by Albert Brian Vick