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Share the harvest- Guilford County. Karen Neill NC Cooperative Extension Guilford County. Goal. Make f resh donated p roduce available to those in need.
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Share the harvest- Guilford County Karen Neill NC Cooperative Extension Guilford County
Goal Make fresh donated produce available to those in need. We had a number of Community gardens that either growing produce for distribution or had set up in their guidelines that participants of the community garden would donate a certain percent of what they grew to those in need. We needed to maximize everyone's efforts and reach more people
What has been occurring • Each individual garden was finding or trying to find sites to bring their produce • Not all was bing used as the volume being donated often doesn’t match needs- small amounts of each item- this doesn’t work for places like soup kitchens
Process • In 2010 we started with one church in assisting with the way they were donating to those in need • Great project limited in scope • Asked at Community Garden Network meeting who might be interested in helping review the production and distribution of fresh donated produce in Guilford co. • Created a Share the Harvest committee
Lesson Learned • Don’t limit yourself by thinking to small • Look at what others are doing that is similar • Bring people together for open discussion • Gather everyone's ideas • Create partnerships • See who is willing to contribute - Divide and conquer • Seek out additional grants
Market Program • Publication prepared to be distributed to local garden centers and libraries before spring planting • Collection sites contacted and arrangements made • Specialized bins and a display created for each of the collection sites
Collection Plan • Coordinate with agencies who will make the pickups weekly • Assist with staffing for sorting
Education Plan • Educate local citizens about new program and what produce we would like for them to bring – Old Plant a Row for the hungry approach • Let citizens know where drop off sites are located • Prepare publication using EFNEP agents assistance on how to prepare and cook with produce being donated . These would be distributed to all distribution points to be given out to recipients – simple recipes • Conduct classes at local facilities where transportation is convent for clients to learn basic cooking skills