The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society ( PHS ) will establish a new Green Resource Center in Montgomery County ’s Norristown Farm Park . The PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park will include creature comforts and services to do good the local community : a teaching farm , a nursery with appropriate heating and cooling systems powered in part by solar vigor , shade area for seedlings , a wash station , a marquee for public computer programing , pollinator garden , community garden bed , and workforce development opportunity in conjunction with YWCA Tri - County Area . The PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park will be operational in Spring 2021 .
With funding from the Montgomery County CARES Act Food Security Assistance and Workforce Development Program , the PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park will support a county - wide endeavor to prosecute and support gardeners to grow more food for themselves and their neighbor , which has become critically crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic . This financing will also provide support for task training in the playing area of horticulture .
Food insecurityAccording to Feeding America ’s “ Map the Meal Gap ” work , 7 percent of Montgomery County residents are facing food insecurity with an estimated acclivity to 11.1 percent in 2020 . Many solid food pantry have experienced a 50 percent increase in demand over the past few calendar month , thereby heightening the need for broad corporate action to support the wellness and well - being of local community of interests . The PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park will offer instruction , material distribution , expert assistance , seedling propagation , and networking – provide the necessary imagination for gardener to strengthen their neighborhoods by increasing admittance to tonic food for thought and helping to cultivate strong societal connections across barriers of historic period , language , and subspecies .
“ As a result of the economical impacts of COVID-19 , it is estimated that over 100,000 Montgomery County residents are experiencing difficulty get at nutritive food for themselves and their mob , ” said Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh , Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners . “ That is why the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners approve $ 1 million in CARES Act financial backing for the County ’s Food Security Assistance and Workforce Development Program . This newfangled ( PHS ) program will increase food sovereignty for participants , their families , and their residential area while also providing tool for occupation training and ego - reliance for the hereafter . ”
garden trainingPHS ’s VP and Chief of Healthy Neighborhoods , Julianne Schrader Ortega , state , “ The PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park will supply the training , space , and resources for Montgomery County residents to get word about horticulture and careers in the field of horticulture while also being a vital place to rear societal connections with others . ”
The PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park will also support YWCA Tri - County Area ’s workforce maturation efforts , which bear to dish 200 masses this year . Participants in YWCA ’s Food for Success computer program will meet hands - on training and soft science grooming in horticulture from PHS . Participants in YWCA ’s culinary graphics preparation program , Dignity Kitchen , will receive education and harvest garden truck .
“ YWCA is committed to drive change , to listen , to support and most importantly , to play , ” state Stacey Woodland , Executive Director of YWCA Tri - County Area .
