FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michele McKinley
[email protected]
919.656.8842
Dig In! to Growing Fresh, Local Food in Communities Across Wake County
March 9 Workshop in Raleigh
RALEIGH— Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) presents Dig In! on Saturday, March 9, 8:30 am-1:00 pm at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh to educate and inspire Wake County residents, businesses, and governments to grow fresh, healthy food.
Dig In! features urban agriculture and community garden experts teaching workshops to educate anyone who wants to build a community or school garden, and for city planners and municipal leaders to learn how edible landscapes can transform communities. Registration ($10 per person) is now open online at www.advocatesforhealthinaction, but space is limited.
Dig In! will feature an opening session plus workshops in three tracks:
- Community Gardens—for anyone who wants to start an edible community garden at church, work, neighborhoods and other sites
- School/Child Care Gardens—for school and child care center staff, as well as parents, who want to start an edible garden
- Edible Cityscapes & Landscapes—for elected officials, city planners, parks and recreation staff, and other municipal leaders and volunteers or advocates
Educational booths hosted by a variety of organizations and schools also will provide education and inspiration.
“Community gardens are sprouting and thriving throughout Wake County for people who want to grow healthy, local food, and urban agriculture is starting to take root as well,” said Sheree Vodicka, AHA director. “Dig In! provides a wealth of information and resources for those who want to take part in this growing movement.”
New this year is the track on urban agriculture. “The focus on urban agriculture comes at a time when the economic climate has brought food insecurity to an all-time high, and concern about access to food has been heightened by the closings of two major grocery stores in Southeast Raleigh, making an existing food desert even more of a problem for residents who live there. We are hopeful that not only Raleigh, but Wake County’s other municipalities can find ways to capitalize on the excitement around sustainable food systems that connect people with where their food comes from, and promote healthy communities,” Vodicka added.
Concurrent workshops across the three tracks will provide attendees with information on considerations when starting gardens, designing gardens, how teachers from pre-K through grade 12 are incorporating gardens into curriculum, best practices in planning and zoning to foster urban ag and community gardens, and more.
About Advocates for Health in Action
Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) fosters and supports community efforts to make healthy eating and physical activity the way of life in Wake County. The AHA collaborative of more than 60 diverse organizations and community members works to achieve this mission by shaping policies and environments that ensure affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity. For more information, visit AHA online at www.advocatesforhealthinaction.org, follow AHA on Twitter @WakeAHA or on Facebook.
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