COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Faced with budget cuts and no money for flowers outside of city hall, a group of volunteer city workers is planting a vegetable garden to grow food for the poor.
Volunteers are growing beans, broccoli, asparagus, Swiss chard and rainbow carrots to provide greenery outside the building and vegetables that will be donated to the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado.
“We wanted it to be both nutritious and also good to look at,” said Larry Stebbins, director of Pikes Peak Urban Gardens, a nonprofit group helping a group of volunteer city workers known as the Green Team grow the garden.
The 20-foot by 20-foot plot is expected to yield about 156 pounds of produce.
Budget cuts in Colorado Springs has affected most city services, including street lights, park maintenance and police helicopters.
City workers began the Green Team two years ago to promote recycling programs.
When the flowers were cut from the budget, city sustainability coordinator Carrie McCausland suggested the group plant vegetables in their place.
“The city has budget woes, but there’s still a lot we can do,” said Nick Kittle, public works worker and Green Team member, adding he hopes their efforts serve as inspiration for others.
Kittle said volunteer workers often tend the garden during their lunch breaks.
