Update #7: a featured garden
A few weeks ago, I got the chance to visit the Hernandez family garden. Although the family loves to cook, they had never been successful growing their own food. Enter, Backyard Harvest! After hauling in a truck full of compost/soil blend, Farmer Dina has turned 100 sq. ft. of grass into a productive growing space, based on the permaculture principles of plant diversity, companion planting and succession.
The family is pleased. This summer, the kids have watched the garden grow and produce food that they enjoy. And, Carlos and Amy have been able to incorporate the ultra-fresh food into their family’s diet. They are hoping that with the knowledge that they’ve gained this season, they’ll be able to continue taking care of the garden themselves in the years to come.
This garden has been made possible through a partnership with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and a generous donation from Backyard Harvest supporter, Michelle K. (featured in photo with Amy Hernandez)
109
Backers
$8,202
pledged of $8,200 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 1, 2010.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
A subscription to our bi-monthly e-newsletter including updates about the program
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
Everything above, recognition on our website & a set of blank greeting cards with art photos by our pro photographer featuring scenes from our 2010 gardens OR a print of an illustration of one of our garden designs
Pledge $80 or more Pledge $80 or more
Everything above & one hour of our Garden Coaching service
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Everything above & a 3-year subscription to PlantJotter (www.plantjotter.com), a personalized online gardening journal. (Hint: Use your hour of Garden Coaching to get help setting up your account!)
Pledge $350 or more Pledge $350 or more
Everything above & one of our permaculture-inspired, intensively-designed & tested garden designs with instructions for planting & maintaining it
Pledge $600 or more Pledge $600 or more
Everything above & a meal in Minneapolis with the Backyard Harvest staff, cooked by us using fresh, seasonal & Twin Cities-grown produce OR a conference call/video chat with the program creators
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
One of our Full Service Gardens featuring over 35 different vegetables, herbs & edible flowers including all materials & labor for one growing season (Note: Your site must have 6 hours of direct sun per day to be appropriate for this garden. Your site must be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul, MN.)
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
Dina Kountoupes and I successfully launched Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers earlier this year. It rose out of our work creating & running the Backyard Harvest program at the Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate, a project that I co-founded in 2008. Now in the sunset of our first season as an independent business, we're feeling satisfied and well-fed having served over 40 clients and having grown or installed nearly 500 sq ft of gardens for low-income members of our communities. We work hard and we haven't slacked off in the education department either - both of us have graduate degrees in sustainable agriculture. Learn more about us and our social enterprise on our website!
