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Growing an Education

The Kitchen Community

Did you know that a vegetable garden could impact a child in a positive way?

I sat down with Lisa Ellis, Regional Director of The Kitchen Community, to learn more about what they are doing in Memphis (and across the country) with learning gardens.

“The Kitchen Community is a non-profit based out of Boulder, CO. We broke grown in Memphis in January 2015 and since then we have built 100 learning gardens in Memphis schools to teach kids about real food, where their food comes from, and how it can impact their health and wellness as well as their education.”

Basically an outdoor classroom, learning gardens connect kids to their food, increase academic achievement, and drive community engagement.

Thanks to the support of the community, The Kitchen Community is making a difference in the lives of thousands of kids right here in Memphis. Opportunities to get involved include helping with planting days and working with teachers on the curriculum.  You can also support the organization by attending their annual fundraiser.

“Every year The Kitchen Community hosts a fundraiser in Memphis called The Memphis Garden Gala.  And this year our fundraiser is on February 9th, it’s a Friday evening at Crosstown Concourse. The theme this year is Garden Galaxy. We are going to have great food by local chefs, as well as entertainment by Cody Dickinson of The North Mississippi All Stars, a live auction, and just a lot of fun to celebrate 100 learning gardens in Memphis.”

Tickets to The Garden Gala are available on-line at memphisgardengala.com.

This is Jennifer Chandler with The Weekly Dish. Bon Appetit!

For more information about The Kitchen Community and what they are doing in Memphis, visit https://thekitchencommunity.org/where-were-growing/memphis/.

Jennifer Chandler graduated at the top of her class from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She is a full-time mom to two daughters in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a freelance food writer, restaurant consultant, and author of four cookbooks The Southern Pantry Cookbook, Simply Salads, Simply Suppers, and Simply Grilling.