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Sharing Your Harvest: Charity Gardening

© Tracy Nagy

Now that it is starting to edge into the height of harvesting time here in Michigan, I thought I would address a problem many of us gardeners have at this time- excess crop and what to do with it.

Have you exhausted all your neighbors and friends when looking to see who would like to share your bounty? Does your family run and hide when they see you approach with a bushel of zuchinni? Then I have a plan for you. Rather than alienate friends and family with the results of your exuberant gardening turn to those who would trully appreciate it- the needy poor in your community.

"But I wouldn't know where to look" You might say.

Worry not, for it is much easier than it seems. There are several resources which you can tap for information on where to share your bounty. First resource would be your local church, synagogue, or place of worship. Often times they have a very active social ministry program that work with agencies who would welcome a food donation. Many times places can't except parishable goods as they do not have storage for them, but for all those charities there are several more that can handle fresh fruit and vegetables. These will include food banks, shelters which prepare meals for their residents, as well as half-way houses and centers for single mothers and teens in trouble.

The second resource that comes in handy here is the ever useful phone book- which will often list them in community sections along with the phone numbers for hotlines and other local aid agencies. Here in Ann Arbor, MI they are listed under :Food Banks, Shelters, as well as under community resources in the front of the phone book.

Now the remaining resource that will be usefull in looking for ways to share your harvest is the internet. A quick search under "food banks" + the name of your community or township should give you a good listing of places. Also there are several national agencies that have regional offices such as "America's Second Harvest Food Banks"- http://www.secondharvest.org/" and the "Food Research and Action Group" which also has links to food banks nationwide. Don't forget National Hunger Day next season too- June 5th. The website for the National Hunger Day has some really good resources to check out too- http://www.hungerday.org/content/index.p...

So this should help you get on your way to helping out those less fortunate in your community. When your neighbors lock their doors, and your family shuns your tomatoes- look to your neighbors elsewhere in your community so that your efforts will not go to waste but uplift the hearts and souls of people in need.