Buffalo Botanical Gardens donates record fresh produce to community

BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo and Erie County Botanic Gardens have donated more than 700 pounds of fresh, organic produce, he said on Wednesday.

The proceeds will benefit Gerard Place’s community kitchen this year and help feed a community of people whose needs were three times greater due to the COVID pandemic.

The Botanic Gardens said that after a three-year partnership, the 100% community-funded Botanical Gardens Eco-Garden has produced the largest and most diverse harvest to date.

“Located in one of Buffalo’s poorest communities for the past 20 years, Gerard Place has been a beacon of hope for those in dire need of programs and services,” said President and CEO by Gerard Place, David Zapfel. “The community of Bailey-Delavan has been considered a food desert for many years with no grocery store within walking distance of many people in need of fresh, healthy vegetables.

“The partnership with the Botanical Gardens has made a significant difference in our community. We are so grateful to the staff and volunteers at the Botanical Gardens who work so hard to provide hundreds of pounds of vegetables each summer to those in our food chain. The recipients of the vegetables are greatly appreciated and touched so much that people think of them and their health. The vegetables are also used for our healthy cooking classes which we give with our group of seniors and the families who reside here at Gerard Place. “

Gerard Place provides housing for homeless people, single parents and their families, and he empowers these parents through education, employment, job training, life skills classes and counseling.

The Eco Garden was established in 2019 with funding and support from the Josephine Goodyear Foundation, PlantWNY, the Western New York Foundation and private donors. It has since flourished immensely and has become a major passion project for the horticultural staff of the Botanical Garden.

“This year, we are proud to have successfully cultivated and harvested Chinese Pink Celery as a unique crop for Gerard Place. With a smaller stem, but a stronger flavor, this celery is best prepared cooked and then eaten raw like typical celery. The pale pink stem is perfect for stir-frying or even just sautéing. When distributing the fresh produce, Gerard Place includes simple recipes that their recipients can try out at home to incorporate some of the unique vegetables and herbs, ”said Michael Fowler, Chief Horticulturist at Eco Garden.

For more information on Gérard Place Chick here.