Meet McKenna!
We're following Denver gardener McKenna as she grows from seed to donation. McKenna will be donating homegrown produce to Kaizen Food Share through the Fresh Food Connect app, and is excited to share her garden adventures with our community!
"It’s easy to feel that donating such a small amount doesn’t make a difference... But, the volunteers at Kaizen Food Rescue reminded me that for one family, even a small amount can make a big impact. My small donation might have been the only opportunity a family had to eat local, fresh greens that week."
July Garden Update, and Volunteering at a Food Distribution Day
Cooler temperatures in May led to a slower start to the garden, but hot June days have encouraged plenty of growth. Greens, tomatoes, carrots, beans, and corn are surviving the heat so far, but plants are showing some signs of heat-related stress. I’m lucky enough to have raised garden beds, so weeds aren’t a huge problem. The major issue now is the mass of grasshoppers eating holes through all of my veggies. This month has been about researching natural pest control options, like neem oil or garlic spray to deter the plentiful grasshopper population.
Although the grasshoppers have gotten to some crops, many remain hole-free and are ready for donation. After registering with the Fresh Food Connect app, I was assigned to donate produce to the Kaizen Food Rescue based on my zip code. I admit I was nervous about my first donation. I wanted to ensure folks received delicious produce, and I was extra careful when harvesting and storing it so I knew I was sharing the highest quality food with others. I followed the guidance in this Harvesting for Donation document developed by CSU Extension when harvesting the greens and carefully wrapped everything into a container to take to the Kaizen Food Rescue.
Once I selected the donation location through the app, I was able to help the other volunteers at the Kaizen Food Rescue distribute food boxes to the community. I arrived at the distribution location with my 2 pounds of greens, ready to donate. I was shocked to see how large the operation was. Local food banks and grocery stores had already been through that morning to drop off the day’s donations - amounting to more than 5,000 pounds of fresh produce, canned goods, and some non-perishable household items. I felt almost embarrassed about how little I was able to donate, but the volunteers graciously accepted my greens for donation and we selected a food box to put them into. The next week, I bagged up my greens and shared the donation with the other volunteers supporting the food rescue. It’s easy to feel that donating such a small amount doesn’t make a difference, especially when you are making dozens of food boxes for families in need. But, the volunteers at Kaizen Food Rescue reminded me that for one family, even a small amount can make a big impact. My small donation might have been the only opportunity a family had to eat local, fresh greens that week.
More about McKenna
Check out the amazing list of plants McKenna's growing this year
June: Why I'm planting with intention to share my harvest
August: Adding variety with unique homegrown produce
September: How individual donations of homegrown produce come together to make a difference
McKenna is also a Fresh Food Connect "Giving GNOME"! Check out her G.N.O.M.E. chat and Join our Giving G.N.O.M.E. program here.