The second Interfaith of The Woodlands Veggie Village—a community donation garden—is now up and running in the Village of Creekside Park.
This particular location, which opened in January at Wendtwoods Park, is set up so children can take a walk through the garden and learn about various vegetables and how they are grown.
“It’s designed with children in mind,” said Ann Snyder, former president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands. “When children come to visit the garden, they’re invited to hear, touch, smell and taste their way through and also learn about gardening, nutrition and nature concepts.”
Volunteers from the Oak Ridge High School Future Farmers of Americaorganization help spread mulch at the Veggie Village in Creekside Park.[/caption]
Snyder said many residents in Creekside Park expressed interest in starting a Veggie Village that was also child- friendly.
Sarah Mundy, a master gardener with 16 years of administration experience in the nonprofit sector, oversees the Veggie Village program in The Woodlands.
Mundy considers the community gardens her primary office since she gets to spend so much time tending to them.
“Since our temperatures are so mild, we are able to grow [food] year-round, and we’re able to grow just about everything depending on the season,” Mundy said. “We’re able to offer a wide variety of vegetables and fruits to our clients.”
Mundy and her team of volunteers often set up a farmers market at fixed- or low-income retirement homes.
“[Residents are] able to pick fresh vegetables,” said Missy Herndon, president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands. “Of course, everything is free and complimentary.”
Snyder said that since the first Veggie Village opened in Alden Bridge in 2011, the garden has reaped about 4,000 pounds of produce each year. The Interfaith of The Woodlands food pantry serves more than 18,000 individuals in need each year, Herndon said.
Mundy said spring is a good time to grow and harvest tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Once summer comes, eggplant, okra, watermelon and cantaloupe will be in season.
“I would probably say we’d have to clone [Mundy] if we have any more gardens,” Snyder said. “She has an incredible background.”
While volunteers are essential to making Veggie Villages successful, Mundy works to make sure the gardens are properly cared for and on track to grow as much produce as possible.
“Not only [is it] a wonderful opportunity that we have with so many volunteers working these gardens, I think it also teaches—in addition to nutrition and home-gardening—giving back and why it’s important to be a part of the greater good and help someone else,” Snyder said.
