After a long and hot summer vacation, the kids cooking and gardening classes are beginning again after school at the El Rancho Del Sol community. The first garden class had a small turn out (as it was our first one this year) but the kids that were able to participate, absolutely LOVED the experience. They were excited to learn the mechanisms involved with the tower garden and Tearsa did an amazing job going over all the details and teachings. The tower garden has has a positive, motivating impact on the kids, as well as community members that visit the kitchen. The space the tower garden resides, is also the location of the bi-weekly food pantry for the residents. Once the garden begins producing, we are hopeful that any produce not utilized for the cooking class, can be donated to the food pantry! This will increase the communities access to fresh, nutritious produce and hopeful inspire the residents to learn more about growing their own food.

We are so excited to get the Sow-it-Forward Project started! Local First Arizona is dedicated to empowering not only local businesses, but communities as well. The funding received will go directly towards purchasing the tower garden growing set, LED lighting kit, tower garden dolly and the tomato cage. Any remaining funding will be used to purchase ongoing items such as seeds, rockwool, pH kit and mineral blend.

The tower garden will positively impact the youth in a low-income area in Mesa, Arizona. We will utilize the garden during weekly youth cooking and gardening classes, as well as be available to residents who visit the the commercial sized kitchen located at the El Rancho Del Sol property. The tower garden will give the kids access to nutritional food and allow them to learn more about our food system. The kids have been learning different techniques to urban gardening, such as raised garden beds and aquaponics (a small fish tank on the counter); the tower garden will allow them to continue to learn about the dedication that goes into growing food.

Hello LFA Team!

We are looking to acquire a tower garden at El Rancho for the kids to further their food systems education! Please help by joining this team.