This year , the Plant an Extra Row Program is partnering with Community FarmShare and expanding , thanks to Locals Farm Market owners Sandy Wright and David Therriault , who are building a community cold-storage shed at Locals in centrally-located Poolesville ’ s Historic West End . Backyard growers now have another cool storage drop-off location to preserve their surplus veggies for donation . Volunteers will sort and organize the produce for WUMCO Help and other food assistance providers . The goal is to make it as simple as possible to donate produce and , of course , nurture what it means to build community .
While food insecurity is often a symptom of economic challenges , it also creates a gap in opportunity by undercutting the ability of people to stay healthy , learn , and work . When people lack access to the healthy food they need , everything else becomes that much harder . In this way , the downward cycle continues .
According to the “ Hunger Report 2020 ,” by the Capital Area Food Bank , a disproportionate share of those most likely to be experiencing food insecurity are people of color . Jobs most negatively impacted by the pandemic were held by Blacks , Latinx communities , immigrants , women , and young people . Compounding the problem , these same workers are less likely to have savings or health insurance , and are less likely to have access to training and education to enable them to find new jobs . With high portions of their income going to rent expenses , and with their income disappearing due to job loss , families have had to make stark choices , leading to significant food insecurity and hunger .
Imagine for a moment what it would feel like to experience food insecurity within one ’ s own family . The USDA defines it as “ a lack of consistent access to enough food to live an active , healthy life .” And in the next breath , we can recognize that Montgomery County is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States . In other words , we have the ability to help our neighbors .
As many of us are these days , I was on a Zoom call about a month ago with a leader in the food systems
When people lack access to the healthy food they need , everything else becomes that much harder .
community who shared a thought-provoking story of a teacher holding up a jar full of stones . The teacher asks the students in the class if the jar is full , to which they answer , “ Yes .”
“ Is it ?” the teacher asks . She then pours a cup of sand into the same jar and repeats her question , and most of the students reply again in the affirmative . The teacher then picks up a jug of water and pours it in the same jar . Perhaps now the jar is full ? I wonder . What resonates deeply in that story is how we all can be a part of the solution in so many ways . We can build community , support and nourish each other to become fulfilled and “ filled full ” just like the jar .
Whether we are the rocks , helping in big ways , or the sand or water , filling in the gaps that , while significant , sometimes go unnoticed , we can fill our neighbors ’ buckets by coming together through the local initiatives that have sprung out of the pandemic . We can BE community . It may be that this has never been so critically needed as it is right now .
Please visit www . communityfarmshare . org to become involved .
Jenny Freeman ’ s path to founding Community FarmShare unfolded by way of her 15 year international development career focused on setting up microfinance institutions in developing countries . Returning to the U . S ., Jenny was drawn to the Ag Reserve , where she started Peas and Peace Farm with her middle school daughter and nurtured her commitment to support local community . After volunteering at food banks over the COVID summer , she solidified her passion for finding ways to link land , farmers and people who need nutritious food by starting Community FarmShare .
Maria Loor is a graphic designer , illustrator and visual artist born in Ecuador . After graduating from RISD she lived in different parts of the world and is now based in LA , where she lives with her partner and runs a creative studio from home . When she is not designing , drawing or painting , she is cooking vegetarian dishes or working in the vegetable garden . www . marialoor . com
28 plenty I Spring sowing 2021