PEA Gardens Help Local Food Pantry

October 7, 2009

This little helper waters seedlings that were planted in the garden last spring

The Farm and Garden Club has been giving away the farm—for a worthy cause.

This year, club members have offered weekly baskets of fruits and vegetables harvested from Academy gardens to St. Vincent de Paul Society Exeter NH Conference, an area-wide food pantry.

The pantry is a member of The Giving Gardens Network, a collection of home gardeners, farmers and organizations that support the donation of locally-grown, fresh surplus food to area pantries and shelters. The network’s creator, Christopher Skoglund ’93, reached out to his old graduate school classmate and “green” neighbor, PEA Sustainability Education Coordinator Jennifer Wilhelm, to get Exeter involved.

“Chris approached me about the idea of Exeter donating food earlier last school year,” Wilhelm says. “He knew we had a community garden that the students worked with and suggested we take the next step of sharing our crop. I really like the idea of Exeter students being involved in community outreach, growing food on campus and giving it to those in need locally. This experience offers many opportunities to learn about organic agriculture [and] community service.”

Starting in June, a large basket of vegetables was delivered to St.Vincent de Paul every Monday. While school was not in session, faculty and staff members answered the call. Math Instructor Patricia Babecki volunteered to support the initiative because she enjoys working outside.

“The weather certainly didn’t cooperate in June and July, but I found weeding especially relaxing,” Babecki says. “It was also fun to see the new growth and the first harvesting.” More than a dozen baskets of peas, radishes, beets and other vegetables have been delivered to the pantry since harvesting began. In late summer, the garden also yielded cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, green beans and salad greens. “This past summer, our greens did well,” Wilhelm says. “We also donated a variety of herbs, broccoli, leeks, onions, garlic, carrots, and red and gold potatoes.”

Soon after the start of school, Farm and Garden Club students returned to the garden and took over the picking and delivery of crops. “I’m excited that the students are back and getting in the groove of tending the garden regularly,” Wilhelm says. “I’m also looking forward to them making donations and experiencing another aspect of non sibi.”

Interested in learning more?

Read about Exeter's sustainability program...

Learn about Exeter Social Service Organization which sponsors a host of non-sibi activities...

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