What does it take to feed 900 baby bunnies in a single year? It takes teamwork, coordination and a lot of greens. Nature’s Nursery Center for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation has become a pro over the last 34 years in caring for orphaned bunnies, squirrels, woodchucks and other native wildlife, and now with the help of several other organizations, will be digging into gardening to create a more economical and environmentally “green” option to feeding the animals.
Nature’s Nursery received a grant for $6,000 from the Sisters of St. Francis for a project called “A Greener Garden.” The goal is to be able to grow enough greens and eventually other produce to be mostly self-sustaining with animal produce diet needs throughout the busy season of spring through fall. During the busy season, the center can go through an entire 45 gallon trash bag of greens in a day.
In support of the Nursery’s mission, Toledo Grows and the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center have both offered to help. Sofia Quintero and its team helped design two raised beds with built in benches for safe gardening, and Toledo Grows will be helping to map out locations, soil and produce timing.
On Saturday, April 22, in honor of Earth Day, the beds will be delivered and set up. With the new facility still under construction, the plan is start the garden with the manageable and moveable raised bed gardens and work toward adding more raised beds and an in-ground garden, later in the year.
“Cur- rently our staff and volunteers have to go on produce runs several times a week to keep up with the feeding demands of the animals
and often we buy out local grocery stores” said Allison Aey, executive director of Nature’s Nursery. “So much gas is being used by our drivers in addition to the produce packaging waste. As a non-profit with produce costs on the rise, we anticipate a huge financial savings as well as reducing fuel and material waste.”
Volunteers at the nursery will tend to the garden each year with the recommendations and training of Toledo Grows. “Just one bunny will eat two handfuls of greens daily and with over 900 bunnies coming through the doors each year, the greens get eaten quickly” said Ms. Aey.
Nature’s Nursery could still use some help with greens for this season. Area gardeners who love to grow for a great cause can always drop off the needed greens at the facility seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Greens that are most needed include romaine, green leaf, kale, collard, turnips greens, endive, parsley and dandelion.
To be a nursery garden volunteer, contact the volunteer coordinator at volun teer@natures-nursery.org.
