MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Our community has been ravaged by COVID-19 and its resulting economic impacts. Many people have turned to gardening as a way of producing their own food as well as a way to cope with stress and anxiety. Throughout the 2020 growing season, Master Gardener Volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County safely supported local school and community gardens. These gardens provide a place for over 100 adults and youth to grow food for themselves and others in the community.
Twenty-nine Master Gardener Volunteers provided educational and hands-on support to the following seven community and school gardens in our area: Blooming Grove, Middletown, Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Heaven Scent in Monroe, North Main Elementary School, Warwick, and Wallkill Girl Scouts.
Together these community gardens donated over 5760 lbs. of fresh, healthy produce to local food banks, food pantries, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County’s Gleaning program. Â
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer or learning more about community gardens in our area, go to www.cceorangecounty.org/
Cornell Cooperative Extension and its partnerships provide programs for Orange County residents on youth and family development; nutrition, health, and food safety; community and economic vitality; and agricultural sustainability through Cornell based research. Committed to Orange County, we design programs to meet local needs to enable people to improve their lives and communities. For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County at 845-344-1234 or visit our website at www.cceorangecounty.org.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
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