If you like to eat organic produce and you want to help some of our city's newest residents, you should check out a program called Plant it Forward.
“Plant It Forward is a non-profit based in Houston that aims to employ refugees through urban farming,” said farm share manager Randi Rogers.
The program was founded by Houston businesswoman Teresa O'Donnell in 2011.
Plant It Forward has four urban micro farms in Houston that are run by nine refugees. Roy Nlemba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, runs a half-acre farm in the Montrose area on Sul Ross Street.
He said political strife caused him to leave his country. He first fled to Russia. Eventually, the U.S. Government relocated him to Houston.
Nlemba said he feels ”great” when local people buy the produce he grows. The sales support him and his family.
“Oh, I’m very happy. I’m very happy to see people coming, many to buy,” Nlemba said. ”In a big city like this, I’m doing, I’m planting. People, they coming to see. I’m very happy.”
The farmers hold regular farmers markets and the program also offers memberships that provide weekly bags of fresh produce to those who sign up and pay.
For more info, visit: http://plant-it-forward.org/