Monies given to JFCS (Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida) last spring have brought programs and field trips to over 800 participants. The 43 gatherings of their “Garden Group” to date take place every Thursday. This year of programming is sponsored by Naples Garden Club and has had a Farm to Table theme.
Field Trips have included a visit to Farmer Mike’s U Pick in Bonita Springs. The group went on a hayride to various fields where they picked sunflowers, strawberries and tomatoes. They’ve gone to a grocery store to learn about all things Organic. They went to a Farmers Market for a program by a beekeeper. Other programs involve botany lessons, cooking ideas, plant exchanges and more. Favorites included learning about orchids and coleus. The lesson about cooking beets even created some converts to eating beet-greens. They have also learned how to use herbs as an alternative to seasoning with salt.
Marla Ramsey is the group facilitator along with being Director of Senior & Volunteer Services. She says she “likes to mix it up” with a variety of programs and is pleased with the participation in their garden group this year. Our grant to JFCS was $5000.
