Lauren Schroeder was volunteering at a community food bank at age 14.As she flled bags with 1 groceries,she noticed that there were plenty of food that came in cans and boxes,but she didn't see anything. 2 and healthy to give to families in need.
Inspired to make a 3 ,she told her parents that she wanted to start a vegetable garden on their farm,so that people could get the 4 they needed.Although they were 5 ,her parents made her aware of how much work it would take.Still,the teenager was up for the 6 .
Lauren managed to receive a(n) 7 from a youth organization to pay for seeds and gardening 8 .She did a lot of research online to find out what plants 9 and what didn't,what needed shade,and which ones needed more water.Over the hot and dry summer,she 10 her crops for weeds and watered them by hand every day. Her first harvest resulted in 40 pounds of produce that she then 11 gave away to local food banks,a soup kitchen,and a nursing home.
More 12 than ever,she relaunched her project,doubling the size of her garden and 13 her vegetable selection.So far,she has spent over 1,000 hours working in her garden and donated 7,000 pounds of home-grown produce.
"I love 14 ,"said Lauren,now 17."Many people help you out,but it makes more 15 when you help other people out."
