Westchester County is supporting an initiative to promote homegrown produce through the Grow Bag Program at Port Chester Middle School. The program will see the distribution of 60 grow bags to residents on June 12, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. It aims to encourage families to cultivate fruits and vegetables at home while providing practical gardening experience.
The effort is led by Allison Fasano, a teacher managing the school garden, with support from Westchester Land Trust, which provided resources and grow bags. Student interns from D.I.G. Farm, founded by Allison Turcan, assisted in planting seedlings.
This year, the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) contributed with CompostED support. Master Composter Aleks Jagiello created a potting soil mix using compost made at CompostED and other materials donated by Westchester Land Trust. CompostED produces nutrient-rich compost from food waste collected from local pantries like Feeding Westchester, which will also distribute food during the event.
County Executive Ken Jenkins remarked: “Grow bag programs engage residents and youth, provide science education about the role of composting in supporting our soil and support those in our community who are taking control of their health by growing fresh vegetables and herbs.”
First Deputy Commissioner Louis Vetrone commented: “When we first imagined the possibilities of CompostED, we knew it would provide on-site education about the benefits and methods of composting.”
The program exemplifies collaboration among public agencies, educators, and nonprofits to promote sustainability and improve public health. A similar initiative was supported by DEF in Mount Vernon last month, where 250 grow bags were distributed with assistance from Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s Zeta Nu Omega Chapter.
