[Vision2020] Kudos: "Backyard Harvest grows in Moscow"

[Craine Kit]

Now there is a place to get rid of all those zuck-keenies!

Kit Craine

On Jul 22, 2006, at 2:20 PM, Saundra Lund wrote:

> This is one of the reasons I'm proud to call Moscow my home!  This  
> story
> about Backyard Harvest ran in today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News,  
> and I'm
> very glad it did because I'd not heard of this wonderful little gem
> previously.  For those of you with bountiful gardens, please keep this
> resource in mind should you find yourself with more than you, your  
> families,
> and friends can use.  And, you might want to keep it in mind when  
> planning
> next year's garden as well!
>
> Saundra Lund
> Moscow, ID
>
> The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people  
> to do
> nothing.
> - Edmund Burke
>
>
> "Backyard Harvest grows in Moscow
>
> By Omie Drawhorn, Daily News staff writer
> Published: 07-22-2006
>
> It started as an accident.
>
> Amy Grey and her son were planting lettuce and having such a good  
> time they
> got a little carried away.
>
> With 200 heads of lettuce growing wild in her garden, Grey started  
> to panic.
> She called local food banks trying to find a place that would  
> accept such a
> large donation.
>
> The incident got the Moscow gardener and graphic designer thinking.
>
> She realized just how easily a $1.99 seed packet can feed 200  
> people, and
> the seed for "Backyard Harvest" sprouted.
>
> Grey started the organization by herself last year, planting a  
> little extra
> produce in her garden and transporting the fruits and vegetables to  
> local
> food banks each week.
>
> This year, Grey enlisted the help of Palouse-Clearwater Environmental
> Institute, which joined in the project and is soliciting produce from
> gardeners around the Palouse, providing both pickup and drop-off  
> services.
>
> "We are filling a gap between people who grow food and people who need
> food," Grey said.
>
> The three anchor gardens are Grey's garden on East Seventh Street,  
> PCEI's
> Pantry Garden and the Moscow Community Garden. Fiddler's Ridge  
> Nursery,
> Washington State University Organic Garden, Affinity Farm and the  
> University
> of Idaho Soil Stewards are regular donors.
>
> Grey had felt the desire to do something with the empty, adjacent  
> lot since
> she moved into her house on Seventh Street.
>
> "I felt obligated to do something with it," she said.
>
> Turning the lot into a garden the entire community could benefit  
> from made
> sense.
>
> Once Grey decided to plant the garden, she started receiving bags  
> of irises
> on her doorstep from other gardeners.
>
> With the assistance of PCEI's Courtney Rush, Grey will pick up  
> produce from
> any gardener's home and deliver the produce to one of several food  
> banks and
> organizations she donates to on a regular basis.
>
> Rush manages the Pantry Garden and Moscow Community Gardens through  
> PCEI.
>
> Grey said she hasn't quite hit the busy season yet, but by the end  
> of the
> summer she expects Backyard Harvest to donate 2,000 pounds of food.
>
> The Community Action Partnership Food bank, Moscow Nazarene Food Bank,
> Pullman Food Bank, Friendly Neighbors Senior Meal Site, Harvest  
> House and
> Moscow Food Bank all receive donations from Grey's organization on  
> a weekly
> basis.
>
> Connie Granbois of the Community Action Partnership Food Bank in  
> Lewiston
> said the produce is much appreciated by those who visit.
>
> "It's a nice treat for them," she said. "Many of them remember  
> growing up
> with their own gardens."
>
> Mike Linderman, head cook for Friendly Neighbors Senior Meals in  
> the 1912
> building, said the project allows him to prepare meals with salads  
> and fresh
> produce.
>
> "What she's doing is really unique and organized," he said.
>
> Many of the seniors are single men who don't take time to buy  
> vegetables, so
> the produce is a welcome addition, Linderman said.
>
> Linderman said he ends up cooking between 70 and 80 meals for the  
> seniors
> and makes extra for them to take home.
>
> Linda Nickels, director of the Moscow Food Bank, said it's nice to  
> have such
> a reliable source of fresh produce. In the past, potatoes were  
> commonly the
> only fresh food available.
>
> Grey said she is always looking for more volunteers to assist her,  
> as well
> as additional produce donations.
>
> Her mail carrier, who lives in Lewiston, recently crammed his Geo  
> Metro with
> donations for the Lewiston Food Bank.
>
> Kelly Kingsland, owner of Affinity Farm, donates leftover produce  
> after the
> Moscow Farmers Market and the Tuesday Farmer's Market.
>
> "Backyard Harvest is a great conduit to getting food to where it  
> can be
> stored," Kingsland said. "Donating has been spectacular and very
> inspirational."
>
> Kingsland said she likes the idea of growing food for everyone, as  
> opposed
> to just those who can afford costly organic produce.
>
> "I'm surprised at how much it has caught on already," Rush said.
>
> She said she's expecting even bigger things for next year.
>
> "The more word gets out, the more we can help someone in need," she  
> said.
> "Now (potential donators) can think ahead to next season."
>
>  To donate or to volunteer, visit the Web site at  
> www.backyardharvest.org or
> call (208) 882-1155.
>
>
> Omie Drawhorn can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e- 
> mail at
> odrawhorn at dnews.com."
>
>
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