[PRESS RELEASE] Plant It Forward Receives High Tunnel Donation on World Refugee Day, 6.20.17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2017

USDA-NRCS and Minority Landowner Magazine Build High Tunnel for Plant It Forward Farms
The high tunnel was donated and built on World Refugee Day

HOUSTON, TX. (June 20, 2017)

On June 20th, World Refugee Day, Plant It Forward Farms (PIFF) received a gift of a 20’ x 24’ high tunnel for their training farm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) working with Minority Landowner Magazine, partnered with PIFF as part of their Houston Farmer and Landowners workshop. The high tunnel was built on PIFF’s training farm by local landowners and farmers who attended the workshop.

“This high tunnel will allow Plant It Forward to enhance our farmer trainee program. Our farmers will learn how to use a high tunnel to gain a competitive advantage by extending growing seasons and by protecting sensitive crops. Our organization would not have otherwise been able to obtain a high tunnel, so this donation is a real blessing!” – Liz Vallette, President, Plant It Forward

“Our dream is now a reality!” – Alimasi Toto, Farmer, Plant It Forward

The high tunnel is located on PIFF’s training farm at Westbury Community Gardens. The training farm serves as a hands-on demonstration area for the refugees who go through PIFF’s farmer training program. Weekly demonstrations are held on the training farm for current PIFF farmers to discuss farming techniques and to test best practices. PIFF demonstrations are open to local farmers, community gardeners, and volunteers.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Daniella Lewis
(713) 432-0754
daniella@plant-it-forward.org

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About Plant It Forward

Founded in 2011, Plant It Forward Farms is a Houston-based a nonprofit organization with the mission to help resettled refugees find meaningful work and earn fair wages through urban farming business opportunities. Houston settles more refugees than any other city in the country and we help those refugees become self-reliant entrepreneurs who can support their families and help our city grow. We provide refugees with the tools, training, and business skills needed to become entrepreneurial urban farmers. The farmers, in turn, provide Houstonians with locally grown, chemical-free, fresh produce at farm stands, farmers’ markets, restaurants, and through weekly farm share subscriptions. Learn more at www.plant-it-forward.org.

Connect with PIFF on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PlantItForwardFarms
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HoustonFarms
Instagram: www.instagram.com/plantitforward