Garden Harvest
8/31/2022When the home garden’s harvest is plentiful, but the mouths to feed in the household are few, where does all that produce go? With these local gardeners, the bounty heads toward a good cause. This season, excesses of tomatoes, peppers, green beans and more are being shared among neighbors, friends and those in need. ♦
Jill Ellsworth
GREEN BEAN QUEEN
Jill Ellsworth grew up with gardening in her blood. Her dad farmed, and her mom maintained a huge garden. Now they grow cucumbers, tomatoes and melons, among other things. Ellsworth’s main crop is green beans — in fact, her husband calls her the Green Bean Queen.
“It’s probably just because that’s what we did on the farm as a kid,” she says. “We did flowers and things, too, but we grew tons of green beans, and my mom would can them, so I would get them all prepared for canning and that just became my thing. I don’t like to run the canner, but I get them all picked and snapped and washed and now my husband cans them.”
The green beans can be like therapy. Ellsworth loves being in the garden, picking as many as she can. She takes them to visits with others, and they snap and chat.
“We have an elderly neighbor, Vivian, and she loves visitors, so I will take beans and we snap together and visit,” Ellsworth says. “Everyone can snap green beans. Then I leave as many as people want with them. Once things come on, there are oodles and way more than you can eat, so I always share with neighbors and friends.”
Source: Grimes Living Aug. 2022; by Ashley Rullestad
Mark Marshall
FAITH AND GRACE GARDEN
Mark Marshall is the head gardener, weeder, seed-starter, manure-spreader and produce-picker for the Faith and Grace Garden at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines. The garden is diverse this year with 800 caged tomato plants, 700 pepper plants, 1,000 cabbage plants, a few fruit trees and hundreds of onions, green beans, cucumbers, asparagus, zucchini, watermelon and more.
In the beginning, Marshall volunteered his time at the garden on nights and weekends after he completed his postal route. He retired several years ago and now puts in 40 to 60 hours a week — a completely unpaid volunteer job.
Last year, the garden produced 20,000 pounds of produce to give to those in need. From July to the first frost, the garden produces about 1,000 pounds of food a week. Recipients include West Des Moines Human Services, DMARC, Trinity and other local food pantries.
Marshall says he feels providing food for others is a calling, a gift he’s happy to share and joyfully does.
“I care about people eating right. I don’t want people to think that they are forgotten,” he says. “It’s my way of giving back. I’ve had a good life.”
Source: Jordan Creek Living Aug. 2022; by Jackie Wilson
Stuart Spencer and Don Francois
HOW IT’S GROWN
Don Francois has been gardening his entire life. It started small but has grown exponentially, now including 12 raised beds and about 10,000 square feet of garden plots that grow almost everything you can think of.
Francois’ neighbor, Stuart Spencer, developed an interest in gardening the day he met Francois and saw the garden. He was drawn into helping, and his wife and triplet boys enjoy spending time in the garden, too.
The pair has also started beekeeping. They are in their fifth season and like the benefit of having bees right at the garden to help with pollination.
When things are producing well, there is always a bounty. Don’s door is open to friends, family and neighbors. He and Stuart have canning sessions throughout the season and preserve a couple hundred jars.
When it comes to gardening, Francois advises people to start small and be prepared for some failures. It’s all part of the process.
“Keep up with the weeds, use mulch such as grass clippings to keep weeds down and help maintain soil moisture. Learn by doing. Learn from other gardeners. Trial and error will make you better every year. Just have fun.”
Source: Johnston Living Aug. 2022; by Ashley Rullestad
Linda Pennington
FOOD PANTRY GIVEAWAY
Linda Pennington wants to make sure people don’t go hungry. As a delegate for Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry, Linda coordinates the food pantry at the Polk City United Methodist Church. Several years ago, Boy Scout Andrew George created an outdoor blessing box as part of his Eagle Scout project. Called the Comet Cupboard, people can leave or take food at any time.
The Comet Cupboard also offers fresh produce. When the cupboard was overflowing, Linda started a free farmers market during the summer, which includes produce from her own garden.
The farmers market includes donated produce items from the public, which is made available for free during the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Polk City United Methodist Church.
Pennington donates her garden items, consisting of peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers. Her extensive flower garden sprouted a few volunteer “bonus” tomato plants.
“You never know if it’s your next-door neighbor who needs assistance,” she reflects. “It’s kind of humbling to ask for help. You might need help someday.”
Source: North Polk Living Aug. 2022; by Jackie Wilson
