Sharing the Harvest.

A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labor of others, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am receiving.
~Albert Einstein

The economy is weighing on every one's mind. Some folks have lost their jobs, or lost their homes. Others are counting their blessings. And 33 million Americans are struggling to keep themselves fed.

- FeedingAmerica.org is reporting that 1 in every 8 Americans is hungry.

- FeedtheChildren.org is reporting that 12 million children in the US are at risk of going hungry.

- On February 9th, President Obama announced to the Nation that food banks do not have enough to meet the demand.

It may seem early to be talking about the harvest, when seeds are just being planted or in the early stages of sprouting. But it is not too early to plan to give away part of your harvest of fresh vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries.

Perhaps you know someone who is out of work and struggling to make ends meet, a coworker who was laid off, a family with a lot of mouths to feed, or a elderly neighbor whose retirement funds took a serious hit. When thinking about your food garden, and the bounty to come, perhaps you can remember these folks by dedicating some of your plants to easing their burden. It's as simple as dropping off a basket of tomatoes, a dozen ears of corn, green beans or whatever other crops you have on hand. If you like to cook, perhaps you can share your harvest in the form of a pot of vegetable stew, some blueberry muffins, a loaf of zucchini bread, a batch of fresh salsa, some stuffed peppers, a spinach quiche, a crock pot of chili, or veggie kabobs. Perhaps you can give them a potted tomato plant or two with some help on how to take care of it so they can also grow food.

The Garden Writers Association has a public service program called Plant a Row for the Hungry. They are asking food gardeners to plant additional plants and then donate the harvest from those plants. If you don't have a large garden, donate what you can, 1 full grocery bag or 25 pounds of fresh produce would greatly help them to meet their goal of feeding hungry families in your community and others across the US.

Donating a portion of your harvest to a local food bank or soup kitchen can enrich the diets of local families and children. Find a Food Bank near you.

If food gardeners everywhere will pledge to share just a bit of their harvest with someone in need, great strides will be made in feeding our communities. It doesn't take much. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "Do what you can with whatever you have wherever you are."