Homegrown’s alright with Harvest

Winnipeg

West Winnipeg

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This article was published 19/06/2024 (684 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Green-thumbed Manitobans are being encouraged to grow a little extra for those in need.

Harvest Manitoba’s grow-a-row program is a way for people to share with their communities by growing a little extra produce and donating it to help the many Manitobans currently using food banks on a regular basis.

According to Harvest Manitoba’s website, this could apply to those growing produce in their backyards or on their balconies, or people sharing a community garden space, which could include community centres. Schools can contribute by incorporating grow-a-row into a class project, giving students the chance to learn about food insecurity, gardening, nutrition and philanthropy.

Allison Kolynchuk, Harvest Manitoba’s manager of education and advocacy, said the produce is redistributed across the province, including northern communities such Thompson and The Pas, and will benefit people involved with hundreds of agencies. More than 50,000 Manitobans now rely on food banks each month, she said.

“It could be schools or daycares, or organizations with lunch programs, or soup kitchens,” Kolynchuk said, citing just a few examples of those who benefit from local food programs.

Highlighting the mental, physical and community benefits of growing one’s own produce, Kolynchuk said grow-a-row participants don’t have to be avid gardeners to become involved, and Harvest Manitoba will provide advice, information and support.

“And if someone doesn’t necessarily like gardening, they could maybe build a planter or two,” she added, emphasizing that everyone in the community is invited to play a part.

“Grow-a-row is open to anyone. In schools, there are teachers willing to help. If someone has a disability, there are raised beds available. Even in winter, people are growing things in their apartments.”

There are currently 15 large metal planters located outside Harvest Manitoba’s headquarters at 1085 Winnipeg Ave.

“They contain about every vegetable imaginable, which shows how people can grow in the city,” Kolynchuk said.

Grow-a-row dates back to 1986, when Winnipeggers Ron and Eunice O’Donovan produced more vegetables in their backyard than they could eat.

Their donation to Harvest Manitoba — then named Winnipeg Harvest — was gratefully received and the couple began encouraging friends and neighbours to donate their extra produce. To date, grow-a-row has yielded 3.7 million pounds of produce.

Go online at www.harvestmanitoba.ca for more information, or to register for the program.