Pollinator Garden Planned

ROUND ROCK,Texas – March 29, 2011 – Neighborhood Harvest Project announced today it has received a grant from Keep Austin Beautiful (KAB) to install a new pollinator garden at Unity Park Community Garden in Round Rock.

Since the opening of Unity Park Community Garden last spring, the garden has grown to capacity with more than 30 garden plots in use. The Keep Austin Beautiful pollinator garden will play an important role in supporting the growing community garden, encouraging bees and other pollinators to the area, and increasing the amount of vegetables each garden produces.

The installation of the Keep Austin Beautiful pollinator garden will take place during a volunteer work day from 9-noon, Saturday, April 2.

“We are honored to receive the Keep Austin Beautiful grant to install an important part of our garden,” said Jeff Ferris, co-founder, Unity Park Community Garden. “Pollinators such as bees, butterflies and moths are increasingly important as we’ve seen a decline in their numbers in some parts of the area. Additionally, many of our vegetables rely on these insects to help produce fruit. The pollinator garden will help us raise awareness about supporting pollinators as valuable parts of our environment, as well as add a beautiful permanent addition to the garden for both gardeners and the public to enjoy .”

KAB designed the grant program in 2005 to help citizens take ownership of their local environment, and build a stronger community by developing and nurturing relationships among neighbors.  Since 2005, $60,000 in funding has been awarded to beautify our Central Texas community.  2011 grant applications are due by 5pm on Friday, June 24th and are available at: www.KeepAustinBeautiful.org/NBG

“The KAB Grants support grass root efforts and empower citizens to get involved in their local community.” said Jessica Wilson, KAB’s Community Programs Manager, “It’s inspiring to see these volunteer-led projects bring the community together.  In addition to being beautiful, Unity Park’s pollinator garden is a valuable educational tool about the connection between native plants, pollinators, and our food supply.  We hope that this garden will serve as an example of what can be done at other community gardens and in citizen’s yards.”

For more information about Unity Park Community Garden visit www.UnityParkCG.org.

Neighborhood Harvest Project is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting healthy local food and sustainable living through education and community gardening in Round Rock and surrounding areas.