DFC People’s Garden Contributes to the 1.1 Million Pounds of Donated Fresh Produce

The Denver Federal Center People’s Garden is celebrating its third year of growing fresh, healthy food on its campus. The garden continues to bring together neighbors, colleagues, and local organizations.  Since 2009, volunteers have harvested and donated more than 350 pounds of fresh produce to the Action Center a local food bank in Lakewood, CO. The garden also serves as an educational tool for the 110 children at Clever Kids Learning Center continue to learn about healthier lifestyles by allowing the toddler groups to help plant and water vegetables throughout the summer.

“From 2010 to 2011 there has been a 17 percent growth in farmers markets. That is in part due to the work of USDA,” said USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.  In February 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled a “People’s Garden Initiative,” challenging federal employees to establish community gardens across the country. USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Food & Nutrition Service, moved to the DFC that same year and through interagency collaboration, unused land at the DFC that was reclaimed and developed it into a community garden.

Since establishing this initiative, more than 1,500 gardens across the United States have donated 1.1 million pounds of fresh produce to local food banks and charities.  "The Action Center is extremely grateful to the People's Garden and USDA for their efforts to help us feed the hungry in our community,” said Mag Strittmatter Executive Director of the Action Center.  “This is a remarkable effort that demonstrates heart and strong community collaboration."

The garden is located next door to a childcare facility and has five raised boxes full of soil with a wide variety of vegetables growing such as radishes, carrots, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, salad mix, corn and squash.  Volunteers are welcome and it doesn’t require a big commitment to get involved. For additional information please watch our video or contact Lauren Pittenger at 303.236.2836 or lauren.pittenger@gsa.gov.