Posts
Plant a row for the hungry......
Our state of affairs in the local economy is turning the above revelation more true to form in families plights than ever before.
I had looked in to branching out the "Plant a row for the hungry" campaign many years ago when I had founded the BG Farmers Market (AKA old town saturday market). My lack of networking resources back then (and most market days only having one or two vendors besides myself to promote it) prevented me from really taking a stand on it the way I thought I should. 5 years later I have found the campaign more appealing as I carry out my csa farming business to make a living wage.
I am still at a crossroad as to which farm to promote it from and how much time can be spent at the market to make an impact. My work dictates how driven I am to go gung ho on things that really matter. I have been told by one of my Clark College professors that I am a high powered individual as I argued with them my workaholic tendencies to carry on as I felt I needed to for what ever reason I had at the time. Something had clicked in me that it really was okay to want to get so many things accomplished, and that some things could wait til later. This campaign is ready for me to help promote, finally! So I started with a request from one of the sponsors of the program to get started. The package arrived!!!!
Many carrot seeds that are packaged exclusively for this grass roots movement arrived yesterday. Next I emailed the garden writers to find out what to do next. On the two farm locations I had already planned in this year's crop schedule to grow more of the extras for charity reasons. And having over 30.00 pledged to the farm from last year's sponsorship contributions from one of our subscribers I had bought some extra seeds to grow some more common varieties of things to add to a box this year for a mysterious individual not yet designated to give to. I always felt that leading by example is a major way in starting trends of goodness for our community. Now I just need to find others like me to do the same. These seeds can make a difference to those who wish to accept it.
On Glenn Grossman's clark county food and farm blog you will see a posting regarding the plight of the 78th street Research Station. I do believe that if enough of us take that blog seriously and implement anything remotely close to the cause of plant a row for the hungry, the 78th street farm will help with these types of food security issues. Yes, there are other special interest groups that are advocating some extreme opposite ideas of sustainability designed for a very FEW individuals. But to look at the whole site and take in to consideration that this former poor farm has enough room for almost everyone's ideas, plant a row for the hungry there, isn't going to take up the entire area.
Marc Boldt confirmed that an agreement with the County and the Clark County Food Bank Coalition has been signed! Surely this could help those who either do not have time to press this issue with those special interest groups-someone has to be the voice for those individuals who need us to help them when times are tough. It may very well be that those who can help are also those who may need those services yet find self sufficiency in doing what they can do for themselves, ,,,, for right now.
Need some carrot seeds to grow for your local food charity? Let me know!
