How an Urbandale garden is helping feed the hungry

Demonstration Garden produced over 4,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables for the Urbandale Food Pantry last year, volunteer Mary Rolfes tells Axios.

Why it matters: Organizers want to grow the program at a time when metro food banks are seeing record requests .

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Zoom in: The garden began in 1988 and is the oldest of the Polk County Master Gardener projects, a volunteer service program.

State of play: The next Master training for Polk residents starts Sept. 3.

• Volunteers attend classes at Iowa State University and receive the Master Gardener title in exchange for their service.

Stop by: People are encouraged to "come hangout" at garden worknights . The next one is Aug. 26 at 5pm.

• 3305 92nd St. in Urbandale

Demonstration Garden's flower, bushes and shrubs double as a learning lab for Master Gardener trainees. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios