Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 09:01:06 -0400
From: M Morehouse
Subject: Plant a Row for the Hungry
*Calling all the GARDEN GEEKS and PLANT FANATICS! Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is asking Chatham county gardeners to Plant a Row for the Hungry.*
To determine if you would be a good candidate for Plant a Row (PAR), ask yourself the following questions:
Do you have space for an extra row in your garden?
Are your eyes bigger than your stomach when it comes to planting your garden?
Do your friends and family beg you to grow less squash?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, convert some of that garden space to feed the hungry! This is an opportunity for anyone with a garden—no matter the size—to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. Just one pound of fresh produce supplements four meals.
*How to PAR-ticipate*
To participate, just harvest and deliver your home grown produce to Chatham Marketplace anytime during store hours Friday through Sunday, and local food pantries will pick them up on Monday. Sign up or find out more at Foodshuttle.org/plant-a-row <http://www.foodshuttle.org/plant-a-row>.
*Kick Off This Saturday*
We’re kicking off Plant a Row and helping celebrate at *Chatham Marketplace’s 5th* *Birthday Party* *Saturday May 21 from 11 to 2*. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and our partners will be there signing up new PAR members, and also be accepting produce donations.
*Prizes and drawing*
When you sign up you’ll receive a starter kit with compost, seeds, planting guide, coupons to garden stores, and more, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a *free permaculture consultation* with Carrboro landscape designer Naked Fruits, a $20 Chatham Marketplace gift certificate, and two 50 pound bags of compost.
*Birthday Party Schedule*
11:00 – 12:00: Free picnic on the lawn and birthday cake
12:00 – 1:00: Annual Co-op Owners Meeting
Featured speaker: Lyle Estill, author of *Industrial Evolution:
Local Solutions for a Low Carbon Future* (more info<http://lyleestill.com/blog/>)
1:00 – 2:00: Local music on the lawn from Cortête (on myspace<http://www.myspace.com/cortete>)
*About Plant a Row and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle*
Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) makes it easy for gardeners to donate fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from their gardens to the needy. PAR is a national program created by the Garden Writers Association. Since 1995, gardeners nationwide have donated more than 14 million pounds of produce. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is the Triangle’s
PAR partner, distributing your produce to local food pantries and hunger-relief organizations.
*Why is this work important?*
Did you know that in this area low income communities have some of the highest rates of obesity/chronic disease AND hunger in the country—largely due to limited access to healthy, fresh foods? Produce from your farm or garden helps provide access to fresh, nutritious food.
If you can’t make it to the PAR Kick Off, you can sign up at foodshuttle.org/plant-a-row <http://www.foodshuttle.org/program/plant-a-row>. For more info contact Lindsay at the Food Shuttle at 250-0043 or .
Thanks to our partners Chatham Marketplace, Chatham Cooperative Extension, Take and Eat Food Pantry, and Chatham OutReach Alliance.
The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community.