This fall, Lake Nona folks came together with one common goal: to pack seeds for impoverished communities in Africa. Pioneers (https://www.pioneers.org/), across from Walmart on Narcoossee Road, hosted the event alongside local sponsors University Presbyterian Lake Nona (https://upc-lakenona.com/), and Cru https://www.cru.org/communities/ministries/gain.html).

At the event, 415 volunteers packed 60,000 seed packs. And, apparently, each seed pack will produce 10 pounds of vegetables in its first harvest. So, in essence, the Nonahood effort could easily result in 600,000 pounds of vegetables or more. That’s a staggering number to wrap your brain around.

So, to help, I’ve come up with some figures to help you make sense of it:

–       Orlando is currently up to 217,000 residents. If we grew the vegetables here, each resident would receive almost three pounds of healthy greens. If my daughter, who eagerly participated in the event, were to receive such a gift, she’d be the one turning green. Her taste buds are yet to mature.

–       If we grew the vegetables just for Lake Nona’s population, which I think is about 59,000 residents, that would be about 10 pounds of vegetables per individual. And since we’d be growing beets, onions and cabbage, all vegetables I’m told are very nutritious, I picture many young Nonahood faces wrinkling and balking around the dinner table.

And Lake Nona’s effort doesn’t stop with the staggering number of seeds we packed. When the seeds arrive, Cru and in-country partners will train locals in water conservation, micro-irrigation and community gardening. Then, since many of the communities receiving these vegetables will have a surplus, they can be sold at market for school supplies, tuition and other needed commodities.

Thank you, Lake Nona. Let’s do it again soon.