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Don’t be a sideline gardener this season. \u00a0 Be a team player. \u00a0 Get your hands dirty by joining our 2017 Saratoga County Plant a Row for the Hungry team.\u00a0 This marks our second year encouraging home gardeners to help feed the hungry in our community!\u00a0\u00a0 We are expanding our playing field for 2017.\u00a0 In addition to the Franklin Community Center Food Pantry in Saratoga Springs, we welcome the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center Food Pantry to the program.<\/p>\n
Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) was launched in 1995 by GWA, the Association for Garden Communicators in a effort to encourage gardeners to grow a little extra and donate the produce to local soup kitchens and food pantries within their communities.\u00a0 This national program is rooted in the heartfelt tradition of gardeners sharing a bountiful harvest with others.\u00a0 The program encourages involvement at all levels, whether you grow in a small urban plot, containers, traditional farm row gardens or blended gardens.<\/p>\n
No experience needed on this team.\u00a0 Even first year rookies can grow and donate!\u00a0 Home gardeners, schools, nonprofits, church groups, youth groups and businesses can get some “skin in the game”.\u00a0 The rewards of helping folks in your community who experience hunger or the treat of hunger are many.\u00a0 Participating in Plant a Row for the Hungry provides a growing season full of teachable moments for kids.\u00a0 When school is out for the summer, kids can learn and experience first hand concepts in sustainability.<\/p>\n
In my first year of the program launch with the Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs,\u00a0 Plant a Row for the Hungry provided over 750 pounds of homegrown produce to the food pantry.\u00a0 One of the participants shared her thoughts on the experience: ” I enjoy giving back to the community, but often struggle to find the time because of work and personal hobbies taking up so much time, so this was a perfect mesh of hobbies and contributions all\u00a0 in one!”![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/garden-goddess\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2017\/05\/2016.07.05.wiltonymcadonation1.img_3176-300x225.jpg\")
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You can get involved by contacting me through my email or telephone me @ 518-390-9138.\u00a0 I can get a garden registry\u00a0 packet out to you, register your commitment and include you in our homegrown gardeners network this season to swap stories about your progress and harvests.\u00a0 Let me know if you are planning to contribute to either the Franklin Community Center (FCC) or the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center (MACSC) food pantries.\u00a0\u00a0 This year, Dehns Flowers and Greenhouses in Saratoga Springs and DiSiena Garden Center in Mechanicville have special discounts for PAR participants purchasing their fruits, veggies and herbs.\u00a0 Registry packets are also available for pick up at FCC and MACSC.<\/p>\n
Hope you will join our team this growing season.\u00a0 Using common sense and sustainability in all my garden practices…here’s hoping for a bountiful Plant a Row for the Hungry Year!<\/p>\n
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Don’t be a sideline gardener this season. \u00a0 Be a team player. \u00a0 Get your hands dirty by joining our 2017 Saratoga County Plant a Row for the Hungry team.\u00a0 This marks our second year encouraging home gardeners to help feed the hungry in our community!\u00a0\u00a0 We are expanding our playing field for 2017.\u00a0 In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":26307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\r\n