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Master Gardener Amy
We have two garden projects underway - both to provide food to ACCESS and other food banks in the area.
Rotary First Harvest organizes 11 Rotary Clubs in Southern Oregon, with our major crop field near Jacksonville. Truckloads of fresh vegetables go to ACCESS and its food bank operations. Other projects in Oregon contribute tubers, fruit, and even delivery services. Here's an excerpt from a recent report out of Jacksonville.
We now have the onions, peas, cabbage and 5 rows of corn in the ground! On Monday 5/4, we will be planting the rest of the corn. We have the sprinkler system partially set up. John Yungen has turned and prepared the soil and John Yaple has already rototilled the onions once. Linda Kestner and Connie Borntraeger have already weeded the onions once. We had a super turnout for the onion planting, just what we needed! We have been able to do the remainder of the planting with just a few of us putting in time. The garden is looking good!
A new project, started with help from Rotary First Harvest, is blooming out near Emigrant Lake. Here's why this project has special meaning for many of the volunteers.
One of the best things about sitting there clearing out the grass roots is having time to chat with fellow gardeners. Over shared grass-clearning work Stella Schaaf told me that the need for this planting effort really hit home for her when a fellow church member confided that she is having to turn to the Ashland Food Bank for help, as she recently lost her job. The people we are helping with this garden aren't unfamiliar to us; they are friends and neighbors who've been hit by the bad economy. Do you know anyone who has been laid off? Come out this Wednesday or Saturday and help clear out a row to plant for them.