Can I ask a favor of those who have the room to garden in their yard..

[Peacetrain]

or even grow herbs in their windows..

Keep the food pantries in mind.. we try and volunteer once a month to repackage donated food. We do grow a fairly large garden and put part of it in for the pantry..

But even if you are in an apt, you can grow basil, thyme herbs of all kinds for people to use..

I am sure some pantries in the time of COVID may have issues with fresh foods..but give them a call.. and if they do, when you pick up those three cans of tomatoes for your menu this week.. pick up one for the pantry.. when you get two boxes of mac and cheese for the kids, pick up one for the pantry.

Make them part of your family. Remember the kids when the weather turns with new mittens and hats.. those of us who knit and crochet hats and gloves for our kids and grand-kids, do not forget your kids who come to the pantry.

We are all that one family..

[Grasswire2]

1. one in five American children is going hungry these days

...and that saddens me deeply.

There are many ways to support food for children and families. One organization is No Kid Hungry. It began with chefs. It's now a charitable organization that accepts $$ donations to get food to children.

[Peacetrain]

21. good choices also!!!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I wish I had enough sun. I've removed all the grass in my yard and

planted mostly native shrubs, plants and flowers, but except for one small area in the front yard there isn't enough sun to grow any significant amount of vegetables or herbs. I've got a couple of cherry tomato plants in pots and a little lettuce but that's about it - except for an experiment with a large container of beets and a couple of zucchini plants. Those can be prolific, and if they are, I'll give the crop to a food shelf rather than leave them on people's doorsteps after dark.

This year it was very difficult to buy garden plants and vegetables, or even seeds, from garden centers or even on-line. I ordered a packet of seeds from Amazon, and it took more than a month to arrive. When they finally did, the return address was Kyrgyzstan. Apparently Amazon couldn't get beet seeds in the United States.

One thing I do have is a lot of winter clothes I don't need, and those will definitely be given to those who need them. In this climate people really do need warm clothes.

[Peacetrain]

22. Coats for kids is a great thing in the fall..

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. I don't have any kids' coats (except maybe for very large ones)

but adults need them too.

[Ohiogal]

3. A couple years ago

We had a bumper crop of cucumbers. Way too many to eat, and we couldn’t even give them away. We took them down to the Second Harvest Food bank, not once, but twice. They were so happy to get them, and it felt good to donate healthy home grown produce. So, now every year we make sure that we grow enough in the garden to take them something every year. Last year it was green beans.

Here is my dog Sophie checking out the cucumbers.

[Peacetrain]

4. Wow that is just awesome!!!!

We had so many tomatoes last year (we also shared with the neighbors) and took at least 20 pounds to the pantry. Yep they were happy to get them.. There is nothing better than fresh produce from the garden.. the flavor is so much richer because we can keep them in the garden till they are ripe..

[Ohiogal]

7. Oh wow, nothing like a home grown tomato!

I bet your food pantry’s patrons really enjoyed them!

[CrispyQ]

12. Many, many years ago I worked with a group of engineers.

Two of them were gardeners and one lived by a river and one by a lake and they started a tomato competition, each claiming that the water they used was superior. It quickly turned into a weekly luncheon on Friday where everyone in the department brought something for sandwich makings and those two brought the tomatoes and the rest of us voted, river or lake.

I remember those being some of the best sandwiches ever.

[klook]

14. Engineer hubris

has its good points.

[Peacetrain]

23. sounds like the story stone soup.. what a great idea

[stillcool]

6. Sophie looks like quite a gal..

a good nap-buddy.

[Ohiogal]

8. That is one of her best features

[KY_EnviroGuy]

5. I only do flowers but will suggest this to my neighbor....

who does grow a sizable vegetable garden.

As I'm able, I'll continue to contribute to Feeding America charity.

Great idea and thanks for posting.......

[Peacetrain]

24. your welcome.. things are so difficult right now for

so many who have had their jobs go away .

[leftieNanner]

9. Our local food bank is not accepting any donations at all - even canned goods

Only money. They do not want to take the risk of any contamination of anything. So, before anybody does this, be sure to call the food bank/pantry to see if they are accepting donations.

Excellent idea, though.

[Peacetrain]

25. Yep every pantry is working under different rules.. that's why I wrote to call first..

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. Some food banks don't accept fresh produce at all

because they don't have refrigeration for it. Right now money donations are probably appreciated more than anything.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. thank you so much for this.

We have a 10' x 20' garden at the college up the street from us. It's closed of course, but our garden grows spectacularly this spring. Normally there is a pantry there, but I've been leaving veggies for our neighbors. A pantry at the church is gonna get some mighty fine squash.

Thanks again. And here are photos that make me a happy gardener...

[Peacetrain]

18. Nice!!!! yep our pantry at the church also gets its fair share!!!

[TalenaGor]

11. Thank you for this! I just started my garden

I hadnt even considered if there would be excess but I will definitely take things to the food bank now <3

[Peacetrain]

19. If you are growing zucchini.. prepare for a bounty to share

[AirmensMom]

13. Mint and Oregano

grow like weeds in my garden. Really? They'd want that?

[Peacetrain]

20. You would be surprised.. at my local pantry they love fresh herbs to try

they so are so blasted expensive at the store many people are leery of even trying them.. and they can add such great flavor..

[AirmensMom]

33. True.

A little bunch of mint costs almost $3 here, so we don't make any recipes that call for it unless it's growing. I'll have to pick some bunches for them. Thanks!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

36. my most amazing herb Tarragon has sprung back to life 2 years in a row.

I'll never ever remove it. Just cut it back. Same with Oregano, eggplant and a really weird species of squash. I'm going there now and will take a photo for Guess The Variety!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

39. Guess the Variety of Squash. We have too many to count.

This sprouted up after I planted Butternut Squash and Zucchini last year. Little green leaves turned into a sprawling plant. I dug up about a 1/4 of it and planted it in a pretty neglected plot next to ours. The 2nd photo is the result.

[Mersky]

15. I'm good with mammals, but bad with plants.

However, note taken about the knitting. My housemate is trying to get me into knitting, and your suggestion makes the whole idea more, eh, interesting to me.

[Peacetrain]

26. I know our younger ones love getting new bright hats for winter..

It can get a little cold in Iowa..

[BittyJenkins]

16. We are super lucky,

because we have land, sun, garden boxes and we bought fine dirt and steer manure.
Our garden just started producing tons of zucchini and will have tons of tomatoes...so far any overflow is going to our children and their children... but we are planning on trips to our local food pantries.
We are figuring making more garden boxes so most of the produce can go to food pantries.
These are scary times and we need to care for each other.

[Peacetrain]

27. yep..just give the a call first to make sure they are taking produce..

Some pantries are not.. and may not this summer.. church pantries are taking fresh produce.. yep. when we embrace as the family we should be.. we keep each other going till the times gets easier..

[BittyJenkins]

32. We have been looking into it

There are lots of amazing pantries in our local area. I want to plant what they need.

[wiggs]

17. Excellent. Another good thing: help establish gardens in areas where needed. Give extra

starts, seeds, tools, cuttings, etc to those gardening in need areas. Volunteer.

[Peacetrain]

28. oh my gosh yes.. such a good idea.. opening up gardens for people who want them

[wiggs]

37. 10 years ago I started such a garden in a blighted neighborhood and still

maintain it 2 or 3 times per week. Open to all, all the time.

[Demsrule86]

31. What a great idea...

Peace, you are a wonderful person! K&R

[Peacetrain]

34. Thanks Dems... I looked at around at everyone reaching out

and realize we have the best chance of my lifetime to actually embrace the welfare of everyone, not by charity, but by acknowledging we are one family, and each of us can give a little to make sure we all are cared for.

[wiggs]

38. Agree. Astonishing that in such a challenging time on all fronts that people are encouraged and

optimistic about change, safety nets of all kinds, and sustainable sharing social fabrics.

[diva77]

35. K&R!!!!