Plant a Row....for the Hungry.
When you are planting your garden this year, think about the Plant a Row Progam!
In Minnesota, Second Harvest Heartland is sponsoring this program which helps feed families by providing them with fresh produce during the spring, summer and fall.
It was originally launched in 1995 as a public service program of the Garden Writers Association and has since "blossomed" across the country.
Most of us go to our gardens, the supermarket or farmers markets for our fresh produce, and that is great.
Some families, large and small, don’t have access to land to grow a garden and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, formerly called food stamps, has cut back on the allowable assistance it can provide thanks to the new programs put in place by Congress.
By the way, if you need food right now, contact Minnesota Hunger Partners and the Minnesota Food Helpline at 1-888-711-1151, which is a program of Hunger Solutions Minnesota to find a food shelf, food bank or a meal. I will write about other options later.
Second Harvest Heartland supports Plant a Row for the Hungry which is a nationwide initiative which encourages gardeners to grow a little extra and donate it to local hunger-relief organizations in your own community.
Here are some of the plants that they will encourage you to grow and donate:
Carrots, radishes, summer squash (but under 8 inches), green beans, winter squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, potatoes and beets.
Please don’t wash the vegetables before donating as that retards the natural protections that the plants provide.
If you would like to find a food shelf near you to donate, Second Harvest Food Donationsor dial 2-1-1 or from a cell phone for donations in Minnesota, dial 651-291-0211.
Happy Gardening…..and bless you if you can Plant a Row!
Best, Ron
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