Grow a Row, Help a Stranger

In the 37 years I've lived in Oregon, I've learned that the people here are probably the nicest people I'll ever meet - polite to strangers, patient with the less advantaged, caring for each other no matter what our personal belief system might be. So it makes sense that the Central Oregon gardeners are so generous with what they do best: vegetables!

My 2015 vegetable garden is still in its early stages (except for the leaf lettuce which is threatening to bolt in the heat) - the corn is just starting to show up, the carrots are hesitating and the tomatoes have just a few sweet little blossoms. But something I can do quite easily now is plant a few extras for the Oregon Food Bank and help my fellow Central Oregonians this summer..


Have you every had so many zucchini that you couldn't find another free countertop, table, or shelf to put them? How about tomatoes in September - when you've eaten, frozen and dried so many little red orbs you can't remember why you planted 8 tomato plants? Have you ever bribed your children to pick the green beans because you just couldn't face those vines again (and can't just let them grow old and wither)? Maybe you're the person the Oregon Food Bank is waiting for - generous and over-burdened with onions, peppers and collard greens.

The Master Gardeners have donated between 500 and 800 pounds almost every summer to the Central Oregon Food Bank through NeighborImpact ( http://www.foodpantries.org/li/neighborimpact). Many local churches also have food pantries if that's more your style. This website (ww.foodpantries.org/st/oregon) lists where you can find them.

If you've been fortunate enough to never wonder where your next meal is coming from, or if you've never had to pass up the fresh vegetables in the grocery store due to a tight budget, you now have your chance to pay it forward doing what you do best - grow some tomatoes for the toddlers! Some green beans for the grandparents! Some cucumbers for the children, zucchini for the bambini! Onions for the oldsters!

Make yourself and a stranger happy this summer - Grow A Row!

There's lots more information on the Food Bank's website: http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/give-food/plant-a-row-program 

This is also a great way to help:  The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance http://www.hdffa.org. For more information, contact  jane@hdffa.org>