PLANT A ROW for the Hungry  

Total pounds donated for the week of September 15, 2009 - 880.   Total pounds donated this year - 9457!  

Thank you to our generous donors.  Your efforts have helped 236 families consisting of 723 individuals so far this year.  Every little bit helps!

Plant-A-Row for the Hungry (PAR), is a program sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Chesapeake Master Gardeners and the Garden Writers of America. The PAR program exists on the premise that many gardeners have produce that is wasted during the height of the growing season at the same time that people are going hungry. PAR was established nationwide to help raise gardeners awareness of hunger and facilitate getting produce to those who need it. Locally, we take excess produce grown by Chesapeake residents on their own plots, farms, and backyards and donate the surplus to the city’s hungry.  Canned goods are also accepted.

From June 9 through September 15, 2009 the campaign urges local gardeners to take their weekly excess to the Extension Trailer Classroom in the Chesapeake Municipal Center each Tuesday from 9:00 AM to Noon. (click here for directions)  The fresh produce is then picked up by members of the Harvest Assembly of God on Kempsville Road who will use it to feed Chesapeake's needy. The food goes straight to those who need it with a minimum of handling and spoilage. 

You don’t have to have a huge garden, every donation helps. Even the smallest donation will benefit the hungry and teach lifelong lessons of compassion. If you don't have a garden please help by spreading the news to your neighbors, farmers, churches or anywhere else.  We accept all kinds of vegetables, fruit, nuts and even herbs to be used in cooking and flavoring.  We are also accepting canned goods, rice, bags of potatoes, baby food, etc. almost anything bought at the store; just no home canned goods or  homemade items due to food regulations.  No amount is too small and we will take anything edible. Donations are especially needed this year with the higher food prices.  In past years local gardeners have generously donated high-quality, nutrient-dense, fresh produce. Local farmers markets and farms are asked to donate fresh produce that will not last from one week to the next. If you have a fair amount of fresh produce and are unable to drop it off we will come and get it. And besides receiving that warm, giving feeling, the donors receive another benefit - since it’s a charitable donation, there’s an income tax deduction that usually averages about $1.50 per pound. 

With the help of the Chesapeake Master Gardeners educating the community about this program we hope everyone will participate and make this a successful drive. Imagine how much food we could collect for the hungry in our city!  For further information, please contact Mary Hammel at 482-2730 or via email. 

The Extension Master Gardener Help Desk will be set up at the PAR site on Tuesdays to answer gardening questions with the latest research-based information. Gardeners are encouraged to bring in samples for diagnosis and solutions to gardening problems. If we cannot diagnose the problem on site, we will mail samples to Virginia Tech for laboratory analysis.
                    

Telephone us at: 757-382-6348                      

Visit us at: Chesapeake Extension Office

Email us at: gardener@cityofchesapeake.net

The Chesapeake Office is a part of Virginia Cooperative Extension, an educational outreach program of Virginia Tech and Virginia State Universities. We provide research based information through a system of campus and locally based educators.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, veteran status, national origin, disability, or political affiliation.

Last update: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 , P.Fisher. © 2007-2009 VCE Master Gardeners of Chesapeake