Partnership brings garden to Reedley for healthier lifestyles
REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A garden brought to fruition by local nonprofit organizations will be unveiled Monday in Reedley as part of an effort to inspire healthy lifestyles and give back to communities in Fresno County.
On Wednesday, the nonprofit Cultiva La Salud announced its partnership with another local nonprofit, the Community Life Garden, to inspire Reedley and the surrounding communities to adopt healthier habits. This initiative is to provide rural communities with resources to address food insecurity and physical inactivity.
The partnership will give anyone interested in gardening and healthier habits access to a Community Life Garden, as well as access to the workshops conducted by Cultiva La Salud.
Community members can collectively tend to a garden that will eventually give back.
“We will essentially lead the classes in terms of teaching them about how to plant the seeds, how to maintain them… you’re really just responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the plants. So if you see any weeds growing…watering, and again just maintaining the plots and ensuring that no gophers get in,” said Cultiva La Salud’s Evelyn Morales.
Aside from tending to the garden, participants will also engage with their physical and mental well-being.
“We will carve out a time to garden and engage in that process and then either before or after we begin the gardening we’ll take a walk. So there’s a walking path on the garden that we will utilize but we also want to incorporate sessions of meditation or health education sessions,” Morales said.
Along with gardening and exercise opportunities, Morales says participants can look forward to raffles for free gear, like walking shoes.
- Community Life Garden
- Community Life Garden
- Community Life Garden
- Community Life Garden
- Community Life Garden
The garden is located at the corner of Manning and Crawford avenues, sitting between two Fresno County communities.
“The nice thing about the Community Life Garden is that it’s at the center point. So it’s between Orange Cove and Reedley, so upon arrival to the garden you’re not quite in Reedley but you’re not quite in Orange Cove either. It’s the center point so that it’s more accessible to both community members,” Morales explained.
So what happens to the fresh organic produce the garden grows? Morales says while participants get priority, the rest goes to people in need and organizations that help disadvantaged communities.
“Anytime we have a [donation] or we come across fresh produce that was donated… that would be distributed to our community members. The Community Life Garden also distributed it to food distribution sites and they’ll also distribute it to I think it’s the Reedley Senior Center, so I envision us potentially doing that. It’s just a matter of how much we’ll have left over,” she said.
Morales also emphasized that every part of this initiative comes at no cost to the public.
“My project in particular is funded by the Department of Public Health in Fresno County and they’re ultimately our funders that are helping support this endeavor and ensuring we have all the supplies needed to take this off the ground,” she said.
To be a part of the unveiling, community members can head to the Community Life Garden at 22899 Manning Ave. on Sept. 16 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
To be a part of the garden, community members just need to register by filling out a few forms provided by the nonprofit.
The first gardening session will take place Thursday, Sept. 19 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. After that, the program will run every Tuesday and Thursday at the same time (depending on the needs of participants).
Anyone seeking more information regarding Cultiva La Salud and their work can visit their website.
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