Valley Verde Empowers Santa Clara County Residents To Grow Their Own Organic, Healthy Vegetable Gardens

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Valley Verde, a non-profit organization that helps people plant, eat and share healthy vegetables, today announced that its personal vegetable garden installation and kits are now available throughout Santa Clara County. Summer is the prime planting season for the autumn harvest, so those interested in having fresh vegetables for Thanksgiving should plant today. Proceeds from the sales of personal gardens and kit services will go towards planting personal gardens for low-income families in Santa Clara County.

Many low-income residents have been priced out of a healthy diet because of the high cost of fresh vegetables.  Valley Verde aims to improve the wellness of thousands by teaching them to plant, grow and harvest personal vegetable gardens.  Free of charge, the organization provides low income families with gardening and nutrition classes and all the materials needed to grow organic vegetables.  The demand for the gardens is high, so the organization will begin selling garden installation and maintenance services as well as "do-it-yourself" kits to anyone who would like to start a garden.  Profits will support and expand the free services offered to the low-income community. 

"Healthy food has become a luxury to many because fresh, organic vegetables are too expensive," said Raul Lozano, founder of Valley Verde.  "We want to make eating healthy available to everyone.  By giving people the tools and know-how to plant a personal garden, we make healthy food accessible."

Valley Verde also offers a corporate wellness program for companies that want to provide garden services to employees as part of health and wellness programs.  Valley Verde will plant gardens for employees, or offer an on-site employee garden.  All earnings go towards healthy gardens for low-income families.

One example of a corporate wellness program is a local Homewood Suites Hotel that utilizes the Valley Verde services to plant a vegetable garden on their grounds. 

"Contributing to our local community is one of the key values of the Homewood Suites Hotel," said Doyle O'Neil, General Manager, Homewood Suites by Hilton San Jose.  "The Valley Verde garden will give our employees access to fresh, organic vegetables. We are also happy to share a surplus of vegetables with the local food bank so those in our community who need healthy food can get it.  The Valley Verde garden is one way we show respect and appreciation to both our employees and the community."

SummerWinds Nurseries has partnered with Valley Verde in its efforts to bring fresh vegetables to Santa Clara County residents.

"We believe in and support  Valley Verde's community efforts to bring affordable fresh produce to the tables of all Santa Clara County residents and feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute to improving the health and quality of life of Santa Clara County residents," said Frank Benzing, CEO of SummerWinds.

As a Valley Verde partner, SummerWinds offers customers useful and timely gardening advice as well as quality plants and garden supplies. Find out more about SummerWinds at www.summerwindsca.com.

Pricing and Availability

Gardening classes and materials are available at no charge to qualified low-income families.  

For others who are interested in purchasing a personal garden to support low-income families, Valley Verde offers a variety of garden installation and maintenance services.  Pricing ranges between $120.00 and $450.00.  Visit www.valleyverde.org for full pricing information.

Lean more about Valley Verde's services, products or make a donation at www.valleyverde.org or call (408) 666-4794.  Corporations interested in creating employee wellness should email [email protected].

About Valley Verde

Originally founded in 2009, Valley Verde is established as an autonomous 501(c)3 organization.  Valley Verde provides low income families with the knowledge and tools needed to grow and maintain their own organic vegetable gardens.  The organization also sells gardening services and kits to individuals, families and corporations.  All proceeds from sales go to creating healthy, organic vegetable gardens for families in need.  Valley Verde is located in San Jose, California and serves the greater Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley area.

Press Contact: 
Jane Gideon 
Incendio International 
Tel: 415-682-9292 
[email protected]

SOURCE Valley Verde