NDSU Extension/McKenzie County is partnering with the North Dakota State University Extension Master Gardener Program and the Fargo Public Library to support food pantries with nutritious, fresh produce.
The Extension Master Gardener Program has distributed garden vegetable seeds to 18 NDSU Extension county offices, including McKenzie County. Avid gardeners and 4-H youth are invited to sow the seeds in home gardens, care for the plants and harvest the fresh vegetables for donation to local food pantries. Food safety protocols will have to be followed to ensure safe harvesting and handling of the produce.
Home gardeners are encouraged to plant an extra row or two of vegetable crops in their garden for donation to local food pantries. If you are a container gardener, you are asked to consider planting an extra container of vegetables. This effort is to help our local unemployed residents, our friends and neighbors.
Fresh produce in most demand at food pantries include beans, peas, beets, carrots, cucumbers, onions, peppers tomatoes and melons.
The Fargo Public Library, who intended to start a seed library for the 2020 growing season to benefit its patrons, provides seed donations. The library, in conjunction with Friends of the Fargo Public Library, acquired the seeds during the winter from reputable seed companies. Extension Master Gardeners in Cass County repackaged the seeds in small envelopes for free distribution through the library system.
However, the libraries closed due to COVID-19, which meant that the public could not access the seed library in time for spring planting. To prevent the vegetable seeds from going to waste during a time of food insecurity, the entire seed library was donated to the NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program to benefit food pantries across the state.
To obtain seed packets for planting in your garden or container, please contact the NDSU Extension Service/McKenzie County at 701-444-3451 or email extension agents [email protected] or [email protected].
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