The Harvest

Lorraine Hughes

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

Galatians 5:13

The summer is winding down, the nights are starting to get chilly and we gardeners are busy harvesting, preserving and canning our gardens’ bounty for the winter months ahead. Some of you might not know that here at the Millbrook Community Garden the volunteers harvest all summer long and into the fall; this food that is grown and given to our local Foodshare to be distributed to families in need in our community.

Generous Volunteers grow fresh produce for Foodshare each wek at the Millbrook Community Garden.  Photo: Karen Graham.

Generous Volunteers grow fresh produce for Foodshare each wek at the Millbrook Community Garden. Photo: Karen Graham.

In Millbrook’s community garden, there are smaller plots which are rented for a nominal fee to Millbrook residents and to individuals and families in the surrounding environs who might not have space at home for their own gardens. But a larger portion of the garden plot is lovingly planted, weeded and harvested by volunteers with the support of local farmers who donate manure and straw. These volunteers who donate about 1 to 2 hours of their free time every week tend to this garden of veggies for Foodshare so families have fresh vegetables that greatly enhance the staples they receive to nourish and feed themselves and their families.

When I lived in Toronto, I worked at an organization which helped Aboriginal women in Toronto gain access to affordable housing and employment services. We had among other programs a GED course and a small food bank. In addition to running our own programs we all helped in small ways to run the food bank. We had the usual items: canned goods, baby formula, peanut butter and maybe some potatoes or apples but rarely fresh vegetables let alone ones that were picked from a garden patch next door!..

 

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