Urban Farming
Fort Worth Botanic Garden plants veggie crops for new community garden
Community garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is getting into community gardening.
According to a release, the Cultural District institution received an Urban Agriculture Resilience Program award of $19,106 from the United States Botanic Garden and American Public Gardens Association.
The funds are being used to establish a community vegetable garden at FWBG to benefit residents at Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County.
The Garden's horticulture staff estimates the vegetable garden will yield thousands of pounds of produce throughout the year to support Union Gospel's soup kitchen.
They've set aside an area called the Backyard Vegetable Garden, located near the top of the Rose Garden and off the beaten path.
"We have used the area for our education programs in the past, but this is our first community garden," a spokesperson said.
At a planting event on August 16, about 20 volunteers representing FWBG and Union Gospel Mission showed up to plant crops for the fall including broccoli, kale, cauliflower, collard greens, and lettuce. As veteran DFW farmers know, now is the time to plant for the fall.
The funds they received allowed them to install an irrigation system that will help ensure the crops make it to harvest. All veggies will be used by UGM's kitchen to prepare food for the unhoused community they serve.
“We want this garden to be a testament to the power of community collaboration and its ability to bring about meaningful change,” says FWBG president and CEO Patrick Newman in a statement. “We are excited to provide opportunities for learning and growth while ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food for those who need it most.”
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is the oldest public botanic garden in Texas, home to theme gardens that include the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden, the Adelaide Polk Fuller Garden (featuring trees, shrubs, and perennials), and the Victor and Cleyone Tinsley Garden, highlighting plants native to north central Texas.
Fort Worth Botanical Garden was one of 26 public garden partnerships across the U.S. selected to receive funds through this initiative, which aims to integrate urban food growing and agricultural education while addressing food security challenges in their respective communities.
