[Community_garden] Plant A Row for the hungry

[Fred Conrad]

Hey, here's one I can speak to with some credibility, rather than just
off the cuff like I usually do!

I coordinate the donation side of the Atlanta Area Plant a Row for the
Hungry Campaign (and PAR is really a Garden Writers Association thing,
not an ASH thing).  We started in 1996 and for the first couple years we
pegged around 600 pounds of fresh, nutritious garden produce donated by
community gardeners, back yard gardeners and some random other folks.

A few years later, the local newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
joined us.  One of their garden writers was a member of GWA and took an
interest.  The AJC joined us as co-sponsors, we set up a system where
they print feature stories and generate interest, and me/we/I designate
donation drop-off sites in 16 metro counties and track the poundage.  I
report back to the AJC with numbers and any interesting story ideas I
come across in the data collection process.  Now we're up to about
30,000 pounds per year!  Unbelievable!

Last year we had one master gardener association, Fayette County MGA,
donate over 10,000 pounds to hunger fighting charities in five counties.
They grew, they gleaned, they loaded they donated, and they earned a
place in heaven, I'm sure.

One good thing about PAR is that summer is the slowest time for food
drives, so food banks and pantries are always at low ebb during the best
part of the harvest season.  Not only that, but because of the
perishability of fresh garden produce, we don't get a lot of it anyway.

The community gardens that participate usually have a very simple system
where they put out a couple five-gallon buckets and a sign that says
"Phil is going to drop off our donation on Thursday afternoon, so if
you've got anything pick it Thursday morning" or something to that
effect.

So that's my two cents.  I've never been to Manhatten Kansas, but good
luck with it there.
fgc

Fred Conrad
Community Garden Coordinator
Atlanta Community Food Bank
732 Joseph E Lowery Blvd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
ph: 678.553.5932 fx: 678.553.5933
fred.conrad at acfb.org    <http://www.acfb.org> 
Our mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our
community. 



 

-----Original Message-----
From: community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org
[mailto:community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of
Mike McGrath
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 2:01 PM
To: Patty Zehl; community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Plant A Row for the hungry

The food bank "America's Second Harvest" has local affiliates all over
and coordinates a lot of collections of fresh produce in season. Check
their web site for your nearest contact org.
                                    ----Mike McG
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patty Zehl" <pzehl at ksu.edu>
To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 1:48 PM
Subject: [Community_garden] Plant A Row for the hungry


>I am interested in starting a local "Plant a Row" for the hungry 
>campaign in  our area.  Some of our current gardeners take excess 
>produce to the local  food pantry, but I believe there is a lot of 
>waste.  I'm hoping to  coordinate a drop off point at the gardens with 
>volunteers picking up the  donated produce and delivering to the food 
>pantry.  Has anyone started a  PAR  campaign, or participated in one?  
>What are the lessons you learned, and  how  successful were you?
>
>
>
> Patty Zehl
>
> Manhattan Community Garden
>
> Manhattan, Kansas
>
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