Grow a Row: Helping Feed Our Community, One Garden at a Time
OTSEGO/SCHOHARIE COUNTIES—The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties invite local gardeners to take part in their newest project, “Grow a Row,” a community-powered initiative aimed at increasing access to fresh, locally grown food for families in need.
Grow a Row encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row—or simply grow a little more—of fruits and vegetables to donate to local food pantries in Schoharie and Otsego counties. By sharing garden abundance, participants can play a direct role in addressing food insecurity across the two counties, officials said in a press release.
“Many gardeners grow more produce than they can use,” explained Marcie Foster, horticulture and natural resources educator at CCESO. “Grow a Row offers a simple way to turn that extra harvest into something meaningful for our neighbors.”
Pantries in Otsego or Schoharie counties interested in receiving fresh produce from growers can contact Foster to be added to an interactive map for growers at mkf48@cornell.edu or (607) 547-2536 extension 235.
Participants who sign up as growers will join a growing network of community members committed to expanding access to fresh, nutritious food in our region. In addition to making an impact, growers will receive seasonal gardening education and support from CCESO Master Gardener Volunteers. According to the press release, resources include workshops, written materials, and direct assistance, along with guidance on connecting to local food pantries and produce drop-off locations.
To help gardeners get started, CCESO is offering several informational and educational opportunities. Virtual information sessions via Zoom are scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, May 28 at 6 p.m. An in-person workshop on square foot gardening will be held on Monday, June 29 at 6 p.m. at the Otsego GROW Garden, 123 Lake Street, Cooperstown.
Interested growers can also sign up in person at the following tabling events: Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, 101 Main Street, Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown, on Saturday, May 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; SUNY Cobleskill Plant Sale, CANR Building, SUNY Cobleskill, 114 Rockland Avenue, Cobleskill, on Saturday, May 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Earth Festival, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Otsego Master Gardener Plant Sale, Fenimore Farm and Country Village, 5775 State Route 80, Cooperstown, on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Schoharie County Farmers’ Market, Cobleskill Fairgrounds, 113 Sunshine Drive, Cobleskill, on Sunday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
According to officials, there are no minimum donation requirements—participants are encouraged to give what they can, when they can.
To register for these programs up to sign up to be a grower, reach out to Foster directly or visit https://cceschoharie-otsego.org/gardening/grow-a-row-helping-feed-our-community-one-garden-at-a-time.
