Monday, April 11, 2011

Welcome

Plant A Row 
Niagara Region

Your garden can help feed people in need!
How often is it that you can enjoy a favourite hobby and help others in the community at the same time?
Plant A Row Grow A Row is a fun way to do both.
Established by the Canadian Association of Food Banks, The Composting Council of Canada and the Garden Writers Association, Plant A Row Grow A Row builds on the long-standing tradition of gardeners loving to share their harvest with others.
The Plant A Row Grow A Row program invites local gardeners to grow an extra row of vegetables, & donate extra fruit and vegetables to their local food bank. 
 
How can you help?
Whether your vegetable garden is large or small, add an additional row, bed, pot and plant something extra.  If you have extra fruit or vegetables, earmark them for donation.
Encourage your family and friends to do the same.
This is wonderful project for everyone, from small children to seniors, from those who have a huge vegetable plot to balcony gardeners who can grow vegetables in pots.  Every little bit helps! 
 
How to be Involved
  • Plant your seeds and nurture your garden
  • At harvest time, take the produce that you would like to donate to your local food bank.
  • Pat yourself on the back for making a wonderful contribution to your community AND for being physically active!
Which crops are best for donation?
Root vegetables are best (carrots, parsnips, potatoes) however, any produce that can be easily handled and stored, including broccoli, cabbage, peas, beans, tomatoes, radishes, sweet peppers, summer squash (including zucchini), apples, and pears are welcome.
Check with your local food bank to see whether they can accept more fragile produce like lettuce or herbs.

Your donation, whether it's a bag of tomatoes, a truckload of zucchini, a box of apples or something else that you've grown will be appreciated and put to good use.  Simply remove any soil and bring it to your local food bank. 
 
Benefits for Your Community!
  • Fresh produce available to those with the greatest need.
  • People in the community working together.
  • A stronger, healthier community 
     
Benefits for You!
  • Regular physical activity of gardening decreases your risk of heart disease
  • Increased awareness of the benefits of getting 5-10 servings of vegetables and fruit per day.
  • Feeling of satisfaction that you are contributing to a worthy cause.

Thank you for sharing your harvest
as part of the
'Plant A Row Grow A Row'
program.
Happy Gardening!