Plant-A-Row for 2011

Sorry for the late notice, but Plant-A-Row for the Hungry is continuing in 2011. The need for good, nutritious food is great.
Got some extra seeds? Plant an extra row of veggies for your local food pantry!

The Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield and Franklin County Survival Center in Turners Falls will continue to be collection points. We'll be adding other drop-off points to this blog over the course of the summer.

Thank you and grow well!

Gleaning Opportunity Wed August 25th

Next Wednesday (Aug 25th), Jessica Harwood of Valley Green Feast will be leading a corn gleaning project at UMass 9am-12pm.

Gleaning season is starting to get underway and the UMass Extension Program has contacted us about gleaning corn that they had grown for an experiment.

The corn will be ready this week and they are weighing it on Monday and Tuesday, so we are planning to glean on Wednesday morning. The harvest and donation will likely go from 9 am to noon.

Let us know if you are interested and we can let you know the details as well as try to arrange carpools if possible.

The only thing you will need to bring is a willingness to harvest, water, and boxes if you can scrounge them up. email Jessica at helpingharvest@gmail.com

Community Harvesting is underway

As noted in nice articles in The Montague Reporter and The Recorder, community harvesting at Ev Hatch's fields is underway. Mostly squash and cukes so far, but the tomatoes are really starting to come in and it should be a great harvest in early August. Home gardeners have also been bringing extra produce to the Center for Self-Reliance and other food pantry locations. Over 300 lbs of fresh veggies has come in already.

Thank you all!

Community Harvesting Happen Soon!!

The Community Harvest Project seeks volunteers to serve our community by harvesting produce grown on farmland donated by local farmer Everett Hatch. Ev, a longtime member of the Franklin County Hunger Taskforce, developed the idea of planting some of his land with the sole purpose of the harvested produce being donated to three area food programs:

* The Franklin Area Survival Center
* Franklin County Community Meals Program
* The Center for Self Reliance Food Pantry

The Community Harvest Project is an initiative of the Franklin County Hunger Taskforce.

We seek a total of three pickers for each days shift, starting in mid-July, through August, and volunteers one time per week through the month of September. We ask people to pick at approximately 9 a.m. so the fresh produce can be utilized that same day.

Prior experience isn’t necessary, we will provide an orientation on how to pick. From there, you can serve your community while enjoying the fresh air and helping provide fresh local produce to families in need.

To Volunteer, Contact:

Mark Maloni
Community Projects Coordinator
Community Action
393 Main Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: 413-376-1181
Fax: 413-773-3834
E-mail: mmaloni@communityaction.us

More Agencies Accepting Garden Donations

Dial/Self Step Program
Site Address: 25 11th Street, Turners Falls, MA 01376
Program Type: Transitional Living
Area Served: Franklin County
Contact Person: Lucas Kovacevich, Julia Wallis
Email: stepamericorps@dialself.org, jwallis@dialself.org
Distribution Times: Every other Tues morning, every Wed evening

Dial/Self Teen Line
Site Address: 21 Abbott Street, Greenfield
Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: Franklin County
Contact Person: Kelsey Wessels
Email: kwessels@dialself.org
Distribution Times: Mon and Wed 1PM – 3PM, Mon thru Fri 5PM – 7PM

United ARC of Franklin and Hampshire Counties
Site Address: 110 Harrison Avenue, Greenfield
Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: All of Franklin County, some of Hampshire and Worcester Counties
Contact Person: Willow Ross
Email: willowross@unitedarc.org
Distribution Times: Mon thru Fri 9AM – 5PM

Agencies Accepting Plant-A-Row Donations (Part 1)

Hope everyone is enjoying the fine gardening weather and the farmers markets. As you plant seeds and put in starts, considering adding a few extra and sharing the bounty with our neighbors in need.

The following agencies are able to accept fresh produce donations from local gardeners and farmers, please contact the agency directly to coordinate drop-off or for more information.

Center for Self Reliance Food Pantry
Site Address: 3 ½ Osgood Street, Greenfield

Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: Franklin County & North Quabbin area

Contact Person: Dino Schnelle Phone: 413-773-5029
Email: Dschnelle@communityaction.us
Distribution Times: Mon 11AM – 6PM, Tues, Thur, Fri 11AM – 5PM

Greenfield Salvation Army
Site Address: 72 Chapman St, Greenfield MA
Program Type: Meal Site, Pantry
Area Served: Greenfield & Leyden
Contact Person: Peggy Rockwood Phone: 413-773-3154
Distribution Times: Mon - Fri

Orange Food Pantry – part of Franklin County Community Meals Program
Site Address: 7 South Main Street, Orange MA 01364
Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: Franklin County & North Quabbin areas
Contact Person: Amy Clarke 413-772-6994
Email: dclarke@crocker.com
Distribution Times: Thursdays 10AM – 3:00PM

West County Emergency Food Pantry
Site Address: 7 Main Street, Shelburne Falls
Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: Hilltowns of western Franklin County
Contact Person: Dino Schnelle Phone: 413-773-5029
Email: Dschnelle@communityaction.us
Distribution Times: 3rd Wednesday of the month ONLY 3PM to 5:30PM

Good Neighbors Food Pantry
Site Address: 175 Main Street Charlemont, MA
Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: Charlemont, Hawley, Heath, Rowe, Monroe
Contact Person: Sheila Litchfield Phone 413-3374957
Email: Sheila@thedell.us
Distribution Times: 1x monthly, varies

Franklin Area Survival Center
Site Address: 96 Fourth Street, Turners Falls, MA
Program Type: Food Pantry
Area Served: Franklin County area
Contact Person: Mary Cavanaugh 413-863-9549
Email: cavamar@comcast.net
Distribution Times: Mon thru Fri 10AM – 1:30PM

Our Lady of Peace Parish
Site Address: 7th Street Meal Site, 90 7th Street, Turners Falls MA 01364
Program Type: Meal Site
Area Served: Turners Falls
Contact Person: Marie Putala 413-863-8185
Email: Pepmax@comcast.net
Distribution Times: Last Saturday of the month -10AM to 1PM

YOU Can Make a Difference!

Photo courtesy of valleylocavore.com

One in Eight Americans experiences hunger or risk of hunger daily. You can make a difference through Plant-A-Row.

How Individuals and Families Can Help:

• Plant or Glean vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers and share your extra!
  

• Deliver the harvest to a food agency near you. More information on Western MA agencies coming soon.

• Share this blog with others you know!