I normally talk about what’s eating your produce, but today I want to digress to talk about ways for your garden to feed others.

At this time of the year it’s obvious there are a lot of families in need out there. Locally we have the Rescue Mission that is overflowing with those who require a place to stay because sleeping outdoors in the winter in Montana is not only uncomfortable, it’s life-threatening. Other charitable organizations also shine a spotlight on the ever increasing needs of our local residents, and it’s truly shocking.

Donate Fresh Produce

It’s easy to give now because the call for help with the basic necessities of life is front and center, but one thing we can do as gardeners is to provide fresh produce throughout the year. Here are a few organizations you can work through.

Meals on Wheels

River City Harvest, the community gardens I work with, grow fresh vegetables for Meals On Wheels in our donation plots. The Great Falls’ Meals On Wheels provides meals to over 300 seniors in town, and we’re not that big of a town. They often don’t have the financial resources to buy fresh vegetables. When you consider many older folks shouldn’t have the sodium in canned food, the fresh is particularly beneficial.

If you have a Meals On Wheels in your town, just give them a call to find out when you can drop off fresh vegetables. Most of these people can work wonders with everything from squash to beets, and it’s appreciated more than you can imagine.

Salvation Army

Our Salvation Army also steps up to feed families, and 3 years ago we helped them start a garden. With the hard work of many volunteers, including their fearless leader Kathy (whom I’ve dubbed Wonder Woman), they harvested over 7 thousand poundsof produce in 2012. This is on just an 8000 sq. ft. garden, so it’s not that big, and this was a summer of terrible drought. Granted, they have irrigation, but it’s never as good as rain. They did an incredible job.

Faith Feeds

There are plenty of places like this throughout the country if you’re looking for a way to be involved with a group. Rachael, an editor of mine in Kentucky, works with Faith Feeds. This is a non-profit organization who coordinates with local producers and gardeners gleaning what might otherwise go to waste. For example, at the end of the season an orchard owner might call to ask them to pick before a hard freeze. If they didn’t, hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds of apples and other fruit might go to waste instead of feeding people. They’re a fantastic resource to bridge the gap between the producers and those who need it, and are always looking for more people to lend a hand.

Plant-A-Row

If you’re a home gardener, you can always become involved in the Plant-A-Row program sponsored by the Garden Writers Association (www.gardenwriters.org). You simply dedicate a row of produce to take to the local food bank or charitable organization. Every bit helps.

Ample Harvest

Or, if you have an excess produce looking for a home during the growing season, and you don’t know where to take it, check the resources on Ample Harvest (www.ampleharvest.org). They have excellent ties throughout the country so you know exactly who needs what in your community.

With spring not far off it’s a very good time to plan to give a litte more out of your garden. There’s never a reason for veggies to go to waste if we know where to take it. If all of us do it there will be a flush of fresh produce for those who can’t grow it themselves, and maybe one of these Christmas seasons there won’t be the same level of need as we have now.