Hello, my name is Emily Skeberdis and I am currently in my foodservice rotation at Medstar Montgomery Medical Center. At Medstar Montgomery Medical Center, a CNM, Wendy Smith, kick started a project to build a garden. The end product was six large gray pots with individual watering systems. Wendy has planted lettuce, chard, kale, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs. After picking the vegetables, Wendy washes and organizes them into plastic containers that are donated to Manna Food Center, about a 20 minute drive from Medstar Montgomery Medical Center. Since the garden was created last Fall, the team has donated 180 plastic containers of vegetables. Two weeks ago, I had the chance to assist Wendy and other volunteers in picking the vegetables to be donated. This was a great experience; it helped me realize how many vegetables can be grown in a small space in only a few months. It is wonderful to know that more people could have access to fresh vegetables through food banks if this garden was implemented at other health care facilities!
