Our 2012 Starter Plants

All green thumbs are GO as we dig into the third year of our Garden Program! Take a look at what we’ve done so far.

As usual, the fresh produce from our garden is used in the nutritious meals we deliver to our neighbors struggling with severe illness. You can help us by raising your own starter plants for our garden or volunteering to help with the upkeep of the garden by weeding, planting and composting. To get involved, email Dietitian Sara McClean or visit our website for more information.  

Over 60 Pounds!

So far this year, our plot in the Duncan Street Miracle Garden has brought in over 60 pounds of produce! Way to go, everyone! Thanks to all of our volunteers and staff members for making this possible.

Remember, if you'd like to volunteer with us in the garden, contact Sara at SMcClean@mfeast.org. We usually head out there on Friday mornings, but the date can vary from week to week. We'd love to have you join us!

From Farm to Plate

With all the heat & humidity lately, you may have been wilting, but the Moveable Feast Garden Program has been thriving. We've been harvesting numerous vegetables for use in our clients meals!

Check out the pictures below of the fresh veggies from our garden and from a volunteer's garden - made into healthy, nutritious salads for our clients.

Green beans, tomatoes, and yellow squash being prepared for use in salads.

Delicious salads, ready to be frozen and delivered to our clients.

By the way, if you're interested in volunteering in one of our gardens, we welcome newcomers! Simply contact Sara at SMcClean@mfeast.org to set up a time to volunteer - we usually go on Friday mornings. Learn more about our Garden Program here.

Farmer's Market Benefits for BaltCo Senior Citizens

Here at Moveable Feast, we love sustainable, local agriculture. Support local farming efforts through farmer's markets! Here we share a great bit of news for Baltimore County senior citizens.

This summer, Baltimore County senior citizens (residents above 60 years of age) can get vouchers for county farmer's markets. 

"A booklet of six $5 checks is available to any county resident more than 60 years old whose income meets standards based on the federal poverty guidelines," according to the Baltimore County Department of Aging. 

Additionally, beginning on Monday, July 18th, each of the county's 20 senior centers will distribute vouchers from 9:30AM to 3:00PM. If you qualify, stop by and pick yours up. There are only 908 vouchers for the entire county, so be sure to come by early. 

Baltimore County health officials hope that this will both encourage healthy eating among older folks, as well as support local food producers. 

Click here to read the full Baltimore Sun article.

P.S. Did you know that Moveable Feast has a garden program? All the fruits and vegetables harvested are used directly to feed our clients in our nutritious meals and groceries. The staff make trips to the garden weekly - contact us if you're interested in joining! 

Moveable Feast Garden Thrives

In the past few years, the Moveable Feast Garden Program has grown to include three different plots, countless varieties of fruits and vegetables, and the involvement of communities and volunteers.

Our plots at the Duncan Street Miracle Garden are notably popular among volunteers! 

This summer, each Friday morning, you can join the Moveable Feast dietitians, staff, and volunteers as they tend to our plot in the Duncan Street Miracle Garden. 

This past Friday, June 10th, a bunch of us headed out to Duncan Street. The goals of the morning? Weed the plot, plant some more starter plants, and nourish the plants with water. 

Currently, the Duncan Street Miracle Garden grows tomatoes, hot peppers, basil, carrots, beets, lettuce, squash, zucchini, onions and cabbage. All of the produce harvested will be used in our nutritious meals and groceries for our clients.

If you would like to join us for a fun-filled Friday morning of gardening, please contact Sara McClean! No experience is necessary - whether you have a tried & true green thumb, or you've never gardened before in your life - we welcome volunteers of all ability levels. Everyone can make a difference!

Recovery through Gardening

Breast cancer recovery can be a long and difficult path - here at Moveable Feast, we see this firsthand every day. But there is good news - gardening can help increase patient stamina, mental well-being and physical recovery, according to new studies.

Getting down & dirty in the soil is therapeutic and relieves stress and anxiety. Furthermore, being outside in nature and getting enough sunlight and exercise helps to speed patient recovery. 

Nationwide, gardening therapy programs are cropping up everywhere for cancer patients.

Here at Moveable Feast, our gardens also help breast cancer patients recover - but in a different way. We grow a variety of fruits and vegetables and use them in our nutritious meals and groceries. Join us for our first official Moveable Feast Garden Day on the morning of Friday, May 20th, 2011. Contact Sara McClean for more information! 

Grow your Starter Plants Now!

It may be nice and warm outside, but it's still not too late to get your starter plants growing! In fact, right now is the perfect time to do so.
We've already begun transplanting some of our bigger starter plants to our gardens. Here's what they looked like in the office (before the move)!

Herbs growing on the windowsill overlooking Milton Ave.

Yellow of Parma Onion!

Winningstadt Cabbage, soon to feed our clients.

Check out our website for more information on how to cultivate starter plants at home! Click here.

Starter Plants Growing Quickly

Here at the offices of Moveable Feast, we're growing starter plants. When they are big enough, they will be transplanted to our gardens. The plants will yield fruits and vegetables to feed our clients in our nutritious meals. 

Starter plants overlooking the view from Moveable Feast offices.

Starter herbs - one day to flavor chef Damon's meals for our clients!

Aji Crystal Pepper and Tequila Sunrise Pepper, both growing quickly.

Starter plant set-up in the office.

There are many ways to get involved with the Moveable Feast Garden Program. If you'd like to grow a starter plant in your home for Moveable Feast, please contact Sara at smcclean@mfeast.org. It's easy, cheap, and a fun way to help us!

Starter Plant Update!

How are our starter plants doing? In the office, we are currently growing:

• Prizetaker Leek
• Yellow of Parma Onion
• Long Red Florence Onion
• Beams Yellow Pear Tomato
• Winningstadt Cabbage
• Tequila Sunrise Pepper
• Hot Pepper
• Aji Crystal Pepper

Starter plants in the beginning - mid-February 2011.

Mid-February 2011.

Mid-March 2011. Look how much they've grown!

We are still in need of volunteers to grow starter plants in their homes for our Garden Program. Click here for more information and put your green thumb to good use!

Start with a Starter Plant: Calling All Green Thumb Do-Gooders!

City life doesn’t mean that you can’t spy a bit of green here and there. Amid the concrete, brick, and asphalt, Baltimore City has gardens all around – you just have to know where to look.

And if you’re having trouble, consider growing some green in your own home.

Moveable Feast began its Garden Program last year, with a two-fold purpose: to grow fresh produce for use in our nutritious meals and grocery bags, and to engage people in their local community gardens. With Year 2 of the Garden Program now swinging into full gear, we’ve obtained even more acreage, and it’s an ideal time to get involved.

Duncan Street Miracle Garden, where Moveable Feast has a plot.

An easy way is by growing a starter plant. Choose from our extensive list of produce options, plant some seeds, and tend to the seedling as it grows and matures. If you need help along the way, you can always contact any of our three dietitians for advice. In May, when the last frost has passed, you can transplant your seedling into our gardens. Summer rains and heat will help your plant to grow and yield produce for our clients!

We kick-off the spring planting season at the end of March, after which you can volunteer in our gardens anytime. Right now, we’re looking for volunteers to help set up the garden. In particular, this involves rehabilitating the garden by weeding and adding soil and compost.

Pepper and tomato starter plants - easy to grow at home.

For more information about growing a starter plant and volunteering in our garden, please visit our website.

Debbie's Garden

Moveable Feast receives fresh produce from a Baltimore City community garden tended by longtime volunteers at Moveable Feast. This is the story of the Lake Garden, written by one of our volunteers.

It was a very sad day on our block when it filtered out that our neighbor, Debbie had succumbed to her cancer. Debbie had just had her first child, a beautiful girl named Anjolie, a year earlier.

Months later we watched as Debbie's cherished garden grew wild, choked with weeds and fell apart.

Paul, her husband – an emergency room doctor attempting to raise their child – had no time for such trivial matters.

I approached him and asked if perhaps I could help out and clean the garden. Not being a gardener, I asked another neighbor to assist so that I would not pull out the wrong plants. She suggested that we give the garden purpose and plant some vegetables.

With Paul's permission, we proceeded.

The Lake Garden in 2010.

As we worked, other neighbors gravitated to the garden, making suggestions or digging right in to help. People that had previously done little more than wave in passing…became fast friends.

When our crops began to flourish one of the gardeners suggested donating some of our food to Moveable Feast, and it was well received by your chef.

That was our first year.

This year we are donating the majority of our crop to Moveable Feast . Of course, a few tomatoes or lettuce may end up in a neighbor's salad bowl, but the bulk will go to your worthy cause. Paul was quite gracious about this.

Last year we made a plaque for the garden: "In Memory of Debbie.” We watched proudly from our window as Paul showed off the plaque and garden to his friends.

This year the garden will have a dual purpose. To sustain the memory of a wonderful lady and to support your exceptional cause.

The Lake Garden in its current state, getting ready to be planted in the springtime!

Written by Sue and collaborated by Jeanne, neighbors to Debbie and Paul and current tenders to the Lake Garden in Baltimore City.
 

Green Thumb Memories

The Moveable Feast Garden Program is now in its second year, and we're actively looking for volunteers! An easy way to get started at home is by growing a starter plant. Once your plant is big enough, it will be transplanted into our gardens to help feed our clients!

Dietitian Sara transplanting basil into pots. (April 2010)

There are many different fruits and vegetables that you could grow. A full list can be found here.



Italian basil plant, to be used by Chef Damon in cooking meals! (April 2010)

Our team of dietitians will help you with any questions you have about getting supplies, planting seeds, tending to your plant, and more.



Baby strawberry fruit, still growing! (April 2010)

 Check out the Garden Volunteer section on our website if you're interested!

Garden to Save Lives

Each week, our dietitians - Jinee, Sara, and Betty bring you the Weekly Health Tip that you so love!

Now, here is your opportunity to help Moveable Feast and our dietitans out - by participating in our easy Garden Program. 

Check out the video below:

Growing a starter plant is easy and cheap to do at home, and will create a plant that will grow in our gardens for an entire season! Your plant will help us to feed our clients living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and now blood cancers. 

For more information and to get started, please visit the Garden Volunteer section of our website.