Miles for Urban Roots

Hi, my name is Miles Bilbe, and I have been incredibly inspired by an organization here in my home town of Austin, TX called Urban Roots which I have learned a lot from and spent many hours volunteering this spring.  

This non-profit organization works to reach deeply into the community to educate diverse teens from a wide cross-section of the Austin community on how to grow food and develop leadership skills right here in the city of Austin.  

The teenagers apply for this paid internship program and are educated in all of the sustainability practices that come with growing one's own food.  They take on leadership roles with local volunteers on the farm and at market and receive training and responsibilities of all kinds of farm care.  After growing and harvesting the vegetables, they also work to sell the vegetables at local farmer's markets and CSAs.  A large percentage of the produce grown by Urban Roots is also brought to local hunger relief organizations so that people who are homeless and in need can also benefit from organically grown fresh produce packed with important nutrients.



For my bar mitzvah project, I have decided to "Lech Lecha!/Go forth to the land!" and team up with Urban Roots to organize my own side project of developing an herb garden on the Urban Roots grounds.  I am designing and will be installing this large herb garden with hopes of growing herbs to also add to the CSA baskets, farmers market goods, and hunger relief deliveries.  I will be organizing volunteers of friends, family, and community members to help me with the installation.  For now, I am hoping to raise enough money to cover the cost of the starter plants, compost, and mulch for this large scale herb garden which will serve so many in our community.

I would appreciate any size monetary donations, and if you are interested in helping with the installation this fall, please let me know!  Thank you so much for your support and contributions to this multi-faceted mitzvah!