GARDEN HARVESTS - AN EDUCATIONAL BONANZA
Agricultural Economics & Community Development
Barbara Murphy
EXTENSION EDUCATOR
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE COOPERATIVE EXT.
S. PARIS
Abstract
Growing and donating fresh garden produce to those in need is a very rewarding volunteer experience for many Master Gardeners. Typically the harvests are donated to food pantries, soup kitchens or other third-party organizations. Every week during the harvest season, Oxford County, Maine Master Gardeners distribute fruits and vegetables directly to people with limited access to fresh produce. This direct distribution method has many advantages: 1) it provides an opportunity for the Master Gardeners and recipients to get to know each other and to breakdown stereotypes of "those in need'; 2) it provides opportunities for nutrition education; 3) it allows for cross-programming possibilities; University of Maine Cooperative Extension Eat Well staff provide samples from nutritious, low-cost recipes that focus on a vegetable currently being harvested from the garden; 4) it provides an opportunity to expose recipients to other Cooperative Extension programs and workshops and 5) by having the distribution at the garden site, recipients have the chance to give back by helping to pick, clean and sort the produce, set up the display area or become vegetable gardeners by applying techniques they see at the Extension office to their personal gardens or by applying to become a Master Gardener. A survey conducted in 2011 of distribution night participants shows that this distribution method has promise: 76.5% of respondents made at least one recipe; 98.5 % think the nutrition factsheets are somewhat to very useful and 42.1% attended at least one other Extension program.
Authors: Murphy, B.S.
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Murphy, B.S. Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine, 04281