Knowing how to grow, cook and preserve food is an essential life skill that too few of us know how to do. 
I’m very proud of the effort that many people have given to bring the Prescott Food Forest @ B Organic Farm to reality. We have hosted local gardening clubs, gardening enthusiasts and students to tour B Organic Farm. Everyone who visits is impressed and wants to be part of it. That’s the true spirit of community involvement and support.
Recently, some master gardeners, volunteers and I made it our mission to clean out the greenhouse to be ready to launch the Gardeners Of Destiny (G.O.D.) training program and Gardening Education Center.
We all worked to organize the supplies, repair some of the raised beds, sweep and declutter the space and trim the gardens. We filled up a truck bed of debris that wasn’t needed anymore. The result was outstanding. Each of us took ownership of a task and by the end of the day, we had accomplished our goal. We set up the greenhouse to be ready to host students for service projects and learning classes. This will be a fun, interactive and fulfilling project for local students and families alike.
One of the schools that we reached out to is Trinity Christian School in Prescott. We met with Kelly and Chris Orr and Aaron Rosberg, the leaders of the school, who are working with us to bring Trinity students to help tend the gardens and to learn about growing food. A win/win for all.
If you have a school, church or organization that would like to give service and time and learn about growing food, please contact me to set it up. Also, this is a great opportunity for families to learn and grow together. This is exactly what we envisioned and it is coming to life. What a blessing.
In that regard, we are working diligently to make our Charity Victory Garden Gala a big success to benefit the Gardening Education Center and Food Forest @ B Organic Farm. I want to invite you to join us for an exciting, fun and informative event from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17, at The Club at Prescott Lakes. I’m so happy that the Mountain Gardener himself, Ken Lain from Watters Garden Center, will deliver his insights and expertise on the importance of growing food. There will be tasty and healthy food stations, live musical performances by Kenny James, Michael Somma and Rick Jordan, as well as silent and live auctions with cool items, experiences and packages that will be available to raise funds for the program.
If you would like to donate an item, gift certificate or want to be a sponsor, please contact me. Speaking of sponsors, I was brought to tears when Ed Walsh from Lamb Cadillac told me that they were going to be a platinum partner sponsor. It meant the world to me, as Ed has been watching our efforts and wanted to give us a good launch. I am grateful. Thank you, Ed!
Tickets can be purchased on our website, www.presecottfoodforest.com/calendar. Individual tickets are $75 and a table of eight is $500. All proceeds will go to fund and build the Gardening Education Center and Gardeners Of Destiny training program.
I will host the event and share my thoughts on living a healthy lifestyle for longevity. (Hint: It all starts with the food we eat.) I am excited to announce our first education program, an eight-week immersion into Winter Greenhouse Gardening, starting on Saturday, Jan 21. For more information, call 928-899-1341.
In closing, we have a responsibility to give our friends, family and ourselves the tools needed for self-sustainability. Knowing how to grow, cook and preserve food is an essential life skill that too few of us know how to do. This program was created to change that. Let’s Get Growing. QCBN
By John Murphy
John Murphy can be contacted by email, john.teammurphy@gmail.com, or phone, 908-309-7046. Visit the Prescott Food Forest FB page for updates.
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