If you have a vegetable garden, here's a great way to share the extras.
The North Bay & Area Community Garden Coalition is once again encouraging North Bay and area residents to grow an extra row in their vegetable gardens. The excess harvest can then be shared with local food banks and meal programs.
"The program has been growing ever since the launch in 2014," spokesperson Kendra Patrick told BayToday. "The first year we had 24 people registered for the program and in 2015 we had 45 and in 2016 we had 56 and this year we already have 39 before even going to the Farmer's Market to further promote the program so in terms of people participating it's been a real success here."
Grow a Row teaches community members about how food grows and assists in bridging the gap between people growing food and community members who have limited access to fresh produce.
Patrick says there is a high level of satisfaction from the growers with a real sense of pride in what they produce.
"There is a real sense of accomplishment when you grow something right from a seed and see it donated to a worthwhile cause. We've also great reactions from children especially because a lot of kids might not know that a pea grows in a pod but once they have a real experience with growing and gardening it's really exciting for them to be involved."
Anyone can participate; it can be as simple as growing a tomato plant in a container on your balcony or patio.
The Coalition is also asking more businesses and organizations to get involved by planting vegetables at their organization instead of flowers. Edible landscapes in public places can help community members understand where their food comes from and when their favourite vegetables, herbs and fruit are in season.
The Coalition will be at the North Bay Farmers’ Market this Saturday handing out free vegetable seeds.
For more information and to register for the Grow a Row program visit: https://northbaycommunitygardens.wordpress.com/grow-a-row/
The 2017 drop off locations include:
- North Bay Food Bank, 1016 Fisher Street, Open Monday and Tuesday 9am-4pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-6pm
- Salvation Army Food Bank, 134 McIntyre Street East, (office entrance, ring the buzzer) Open Monday through Thursday 10 am-4 pm
- The Gathering Place, 392 Algonquin Avenue,. Open Monday through Thursday 8:30 am-3 pm, Friday 8:30 am-2 pm
- Powassan and District Food Bank, 70 King Street, Open Thursdays from 11:30 am-4 pm or call Sally at 705-303-7242
- Callander and District Food Bank, 78 Landsdowne Street East, Open Tuesdays 9 am-noon
- Mattawa and Area Food Bank, 450 Hurdman Street, Open every second Wednesday of the month 9 am-noon. Call Wayne at 705-744-0008
"The importance of the community assisting in Grow a Row can't really be measured. It is community helping community, and goes a long way towards helping a hidden population eat healthy," said Dennis Chippa, the Executive Director of The Gathering Place.
The Grow a Row program started in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1986 when a local family produced more potatoes in their backyard garden than they could consume. They decided to donate the excess to the local food bank, Winnipeg Harvest.
The North Bay and area Grow a Row program was launched in the spring of 2014
