TULSA, Okla — Several locals gathered in west Tulsa Saturday afternoon to revitalize the Challenger 7 Community Garden and Food Forest in an effort to address food insecurity.
Amber Norrid, a local entrepreneur who works with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma along with several locals, worked in the food forest area of the community garden to prepare it for Spring planting.
“We are providing maintenance for the fruiting trees and bushes so that we can reduce the amount of labor in the future growing season for keeping that up", Norrid said.
Their goal with the work they did on Saturday afternoon was to reduce the amount of labor in the growing season to maintain the fruit & vegetable trees and bushes.
Norrid told 2 News, “we are laying down a weed barrier that will also feed the soil so we are putting down wet newspapers and then mulch on top of that. That will help suppress the grass and the weeds around the food-bearing plants".
It's all part of a volunteer program with Heartland Forward and Builders + Backers through an idea accelerator program.
This program aims to turn entrepreneur ideas into reality.
Norrid said through the pandemic, community garden volunteers dwindled leading to the Challenger 7 Community Garden being neglected.
The group felt that due to the location of the Challenger 7 Community Garden, it was important to revitalize it.
“This location is in what is sometimes called a food desert. I’ve also heard food apartheid which I think is a really great way of putting it. There’s not a lot of grocery stores in this area so fresh fruits and vegetables are harder to come by", Norrid said.
She said this is an example of what the community can do to try to make sure the neighborhood has access to fresh fruits, veggies, and other healthy options.
“We want to make sure that those assets are protected and persevere so that future generations who need food, we don’t know what’s going to happen, are going to have this as an asset in the community", Norrid said.
Keep up with more events that the Tulsa Community Garden Association is planning or for more information.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Twitter
