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Carolina Community Garden donates fresh produce to medical staff

Spring produce is ready for harvest at UNC's Carolina Community Garden. "This has probably been the best spring we've had in years," said Claire Lorch, program manager for the garden. But, the timing couldn't be worse for Lorch.

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By
Rick Armstrong
, WRAL producer & Rene Chou, WRAL anchor/reporter
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Spring produce is ready for harvest at UNC's Carolina Community Garden.

"This has probably been the best spring we've had in years," said Claire Lorch, program manager for the garden. But, the timing couldn't be worse for Lorch.

The garden usually donates its produce to UNC's housekeeping staff. Many of them aren't around anymore, as university dorms and classrooms are closed for the rest of the semester.

Instead, the Carolina Community Garden is delivering fresh produce to UNC Medical Center staff who are working hard to fight COVID-19.

"They are very appreciative on their end and we are really happy to make a tiny contribution to the effort," said Lorch.

Carrots are just one of the many spring vegetables that will make their way to benefit employees of UNC's Medical Center

orch and volunteers at the garden deliver fresh produce like spinach, Chinese cabbage, green onions, carrots, radishes, collards and kale.

As of April 24, Lorch said they have completed five distributions to the medical center with over 250 pieces of produce.

The garden is also not accepting any more volunteers as a precautionary measure. That means their regular crew of volunteers aren't here to help with the harvest. Instead, the community garden is leaning heavily on medical students as volunteers, like Madeline Hamilton.

Lorch says Covid-19 precautions meants her usual source of volunteers to work the spring harvest would have to sit this season out

"We're trying to find ways, other than being at the hospital right now, so that we can try to help out locally," she said.

The Carolina Community Campus Garden is under the umbrella of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, which is closed until social distancing restrictions in the state are eased or lifted.

Lorch wanted to remind other nature lovers that the trails around the gardens are still open, so people can enjoy taking a nice outdoor walk to help them reduce their stress.

UNC medical students may fulfill a public service requirment by volunteering at the Carolina Community Garden

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