COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. — In recognition of September as Hunger Action Month, we would like to share the most recent activity of the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Montgomery County:
What happens when Montgomery County Master Gardeners aren’t able to show their outdoor Learning Gardens to the public because of pandemic restrictions? In normal times, a few hundred people from garden clubs or groups of children would visit to learn about flower gardening. Unfortunately, this year’s pandemic social restrictions put a stop to such gatherings
Well, Master Gardeners are expert gardeners, trained by Penn Extension Extension. They know their way around growing a variety of plants. So, they decided to repurpose their Learning Garden growing spaces, as well as their home gardens, and plant many vegetables instead of flowers. Why? The pandemic triggered higher levels of food insecurity in many county neighborhoods. Local food pantries saw the number of needy clients skyrocket. And, these same pantries lost vegetable donations from typical outlets, like grocery stores.
The Montco Master Gardeners, all volunteers, harnessed their produce powers to grow garden vegetables as a meaningful way to help feed more people at these pantries. They couldn’t get started until green phase restrictions permitted some outdoor activity. Yet, since early July, a passionate group of 17 Master Gardeners plus a few of their friends have grown and harvested nearly 750 pounds of garden grown vegetables. Following guidelines, they did their outdoor garden work while socially distanced and with masks.
The vegetables are collected once weekly outdoors at the Master Gardener headquarters in Creamery. Then, that same day, this fresh food is delivered to a few local pantries. So far, to 11 different food pantries in Montgomery County, with the majority going to Martha’s Choice in Norristown, Manna on Main in Lansdale and Pottstown Cluster Food Pantry in Pottstown. What vegetables grow well and relatively quickly, even after getting a late start? Tomatoes head the bounty, followed by squash, zucchini and cucumbers. Then the always versatile greens such as swiss chard and kale. And, you can rely on green peppers and green onions too.
Even with the vegetable growing season starting to wind down, the Master Gardeners are targeting a food goal of 1/2 ton (1000 pounds) of vegetables grown and delivered. A challenge met by repurposing outdoor flower growing into producing vegetables, so that those who are hungry can have access to fresh food. While at the same time, these Master Gardener educators are learning first hand the challenges facing our food producers as they strive to maximize high quality production.
–Penn State Extension