Victory Garden Initiative builds 500 garden beds in 15 days



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It's a new addition to Angela Pruitt's backyard, and she couldn't be more excited about it.

"To be able to pick your own vegetables and fruit and then sit on your porch with them washed and just eat them fresh, we need to go get back to that," says Angela.

Along with Angela, hundreds of others are getting gardens put in their yard with the help of Victory Garden Initiative.

"Victory Garden Initiative has always been and still is a very grassroots organization. It`s about people empowering themselves to make change," says Victory Garden Initiative Executive Director Gretchen Mead.

The organization started five years ago, to make people aware of the environment and eating healthy.

"Some people will say that up to 50 percent of the population of our country is obese to morbidly obese these are not small numbers. This is an epidemic," says Mead.

Each year, Victory Garden Initiative does a garden blitz, where they build a bunch of gardens all at once.

They also offer reduced rates to low-income people qualify.

This year they're building 500 garden beds in just 15 days at homes, companies, schools, and communities.

"Any place where there is a group of people or an individual who says I want to grow more food for myself, they can contact us and we will find a way to help them," says Mead.

As for Angela, she can't wait get her garden started with her family.

"I'm going to pass this on so that we all get involved in it so I`m looking forward to working with my grandchildren and watching the plants grow," says Angela.

Changing the way we live and eat, one garden at a time.

Victory Garden Initiative also offers gardening classes.

For more information on the Victory Garden Initiative, CLICK HERE.