Master Gardeners Launch “Plant a Row For the Hungry” Program

— from Pegi Groundwater —

The Orcas Island Master Gardeners are launching a new Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) program at this year’s Farmers Market starting this Saturday. The program encourages local gardeners to plant some extra seeds in their garden and then, when the crops ripen, to donate their produce to the Food Bank. The Food Bank accepts fresh produce as well as non-perishables to assist island residents .

What Is PAR?
Launched in 1995 by the Garden Writers Association (GWA), Plant A Row for the Hungry is a nationwide people-helping-people program that encourages gardeners to grow a little extra and donate the produce to local soup kitchens and food pantries serving the homeless and hungry in their local communities.

The Need Is Great

• Over 36 million Americans live in households that experience hunger or the risk of hunger daily.
• Almost 14 million people facing hunger each day are children.
• 1-in-8 Americans face hunger daily.

PAR’s mission is to provide an avenue for individuals, corporations and over 84 million gardening households in the U.S. to help America’s most vulnerable citizens and the food agencies serving them.

Harvesting Hope
PAR is a unique community-based program. It encourages individual and community gardeners to plant and donate an extra row of produce for the greater good in support of food relief organizations in neighborhoods, local districts, cities and counties nationwide.
There is no “typical” hungry person. Rather, he or she looks like all of us and is usually someone who, due to some unforeseen events, finds him/herself needing help. Hunger affects us all, prompting health problems and deteriorating productivity.

Local food agencies are often the only hope that some people have to put food on the table for themselves and their children. By donating produce directly to the food agencies, gardeners help organizations and their patrons stretch their meager resources.

Keeping the Focus on Communities at Home
The American public has responded with open hearts and unprecedented donations to calls for aid for disasters like the Oso mudslide this year. At the same time, local food agencies depend on many of these same charitable sources to help provide food and services to Americans who suffer the daily threat of hunger.

Studies show that gifts to local organizations drop significantly following major disasters. By keeping our focus on local community gardens donating produce directly to the food agencies, gardeners can help organizations extend their limited resources at a time when their need is greatest and its impact is felt the most.

You Can Make A Difference!
PAR is rooted in the heartfelt tradition of gardeners sharing their bountiful harvest with others. Nothing beats the taste and nutrition of fresh-picked vegetables. Growing and eating from your own garden can improve your health, save you money, increase your sustainability, and decrease your carbon footprint. And most important, your garden can help a lot of people in need.

How You Can Help:

• Sign up to participate in the PAR program with the Master Gardeners at their booth at the Orcas Island Farmers Market on Saturdays.
• Plant a little extra seed in your garden and tend it with the rest of your garden. If you don’t have extra seed, you can even get free seed from the Master Gardeners at their booth at the Orcas Island Farmers Market.
• Donate the produce you harvest to the Orcas Island Food Bank. The Master Gardeners will provide you with instructions on when, where, and how to make your donations. You will also receive stickers that you can use to identify your produce as a PAR donation.
• You can also donate any surplus fresh produce from your garden to the Orcas Island Food Bank, even if it was not originally planted for donation.