It started simply. A group of Fair Oaks gardeners wanted to share this season's harvest with people in need.
This little idea turned into a big bonanza for a local food closet – and more than 1,500 pounds of locally grown, organic vegetables donated.
About 45 gardeners from the Fair Oaks Community Garden took part in the project at Fair Oaks Park.
"This hearty group decided they wanted to do something to help others during this economically challenging time," says Sandy Scammell, the garden's coordinator. "The coordinating committee of the garden did some research and found a food closet in the local area that was delighted to have fresh, organic produce."
Roy Tyree, a retired postal worker and garden member, coordinated the project. A 4,000-square-foot area was staked out. Park district personnel helped with the tilling and irrigation, but the garden volunteers provided the seeds, plants and more elbow grease, contributing hundreds of hours of labor.
"Along with red potatoes, we have a number of varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, beets, lettuce; crookneck, zucchini and butternut squashes; bush beans, pole beans and corn," Scammell reports.
So far, the group has made about 25 deliveries to the food closet. The tally includes 12 boxes of red potatoes; 14 bags of carrots, beets and radishes; four boxes of corn; 17 boxes of green beans; 23 boxes of tomatoes; and 28 boxes of cucumbers, zucchinis, eggplant and peppers.
"As crops are finishing, new beds of pumpkins and winter squashes have been planted," Scammell says. "A second crop of corn is growing taller. This has been an overwhelmingly rewarding experience for the Fair Oaks Community Garden and may be an ongoing project."
Do you have a gardening story to share, want to publicize a crop swap or know of a food bank that needs veggies?
Source Sac Bee
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