Gardening for the Hungry: Easy ways to Share the Bounty
“Plant a Row for the Hungry” is more than a great idea; it’s a movement started by Alaskan garden writer Jeff Lowenfels that encouraged his readers to plant one extra row of vegetables and donate the harvest to the local food shelter. Later embraced by the entire Garden Writers Association, this movement has produced millions of pounds of fresh produce each year for the last few years.
After finding his garden too bountiful, gardener Gary Oppenheimer gave his excess harvest away to friends and neighbors, and soon that route was maxed out as well. He didn’t want to waste great food, so after donating the rest to a local women’s shelter, the idea grew to figure out a way to connect home gardeners to the food banks who are prepared to handle and distribute fresh produce.
So Gary founded AmpleHarvest.org, with a focus on doing just that, so that surplus harvest can go to hunger relief and not the compost bin. Today, from Master Gardening groups to your friends and neighbors, more people are sharing the bounty and there are some great and easy ways for you to do the same.
For more information:
- AmpleHarvest.org – connecting home gardeners with local food pantries that can accept fresh produce, plus resources for gardeners and food banks
- Find a food pantry near you that accepts homegrown produce
- Plant a Row for the Hungry – Garden Writers Association service project, encouraging home gardeners to plant an extra row to donate for local hunger relief
- FeedingAmerica.org
- Solid-Ground.org
- GleanIt.org – Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle food gleaning programs
- Chef Nathan Lyon recipe for Summer Zucchini Salad with Shallot Caper Vinaigrette
- Joe’s Blog: Tips from Gary Oppenheimer on Starting Your Own Community Garden
Thank you so much for this program! It’s so nice to hear about all the different ways people are making a difference through gardening! I coordinate a garden where high school students and I volunteer to grow vegetables for our local food pantry. It serves so many purposes. First and foremost, we are able to provide hundreds of pounds of produce every summer, but it also give kids some exposure to where their food comes from. We have a garden party at the end of the season so kids get a chance to experience what “fresh from the garden” tastes like. Hopefully they will carry on what they are learning in the garden to adulthood.
Thanks Jodie. You’re very welcome! You are doing important work too. Involving kids (of all ages) in gardening can be a life changing event. Who knows where it will take them. Keep up the good work!
Hi. I love the program and have obtained much knowledge from it. My question is in your raised beds you appear to grow organically as much as possible but are those pressure treated Timbers that make up your bed? Why?
They are untreated 6×6 timbers Stephen. Def. not pressure treated. Glad you like the show. Thank you.
What a Great idea, like all great ones simple & workable. Think I will call
Metropolitan Ministries, Inc 2002 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813.209.1000 | Fax: 813.209.1080 which is a mile or two form my place.
Great. Please urge all of your friends nationwide to do the same.
As we’re approaching T-Day and the holidays, please visit http://www.AmpleHarvest.org/holiday to learn how your family’s special dinner can make a difference in someone else’s life too.
And it’s not what you think!
In Kentucky, I invite you to learn about Faith Feeds of Kentucky – Harvesting for the Hungry through gleaning farmers markets, farms, orchards, community gardens and residences; promoting Plant a Row and Urban Friendship Gardens. Learn more at http://www.faithfeedslex.org.