Garden volunteers harvest food for families in need

For the last few weeks, Backyard Produce Garden Project volunteers have started to see their work pay off as they harvest tomatoes, beans, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and other vegetables.

The 50-by-25-foot garden is on the grounds of Sunshine Care Assisted Living in Poway, which donated its use to the local Palomar Pomerado Health Community Action Council to supplement fruits and vegetables area residents have been donating.

The produce is given to local families in need through Friends & Family Community Connection and San Diego Food Bank.

“It amazes me how it is adding up,” said Jane Radatz, the garden project’s chairwoman.

The garden was planted in mid-June. There are about 25 volunteers, most of whom work on one of seven teams with a weekly hour-long shift.

“Operating on a shoe string, the volunteers begged and borrowed equipment and supplies, organized work days and gradually converted the weed-covered vacant lot into a garden,” Radatz said. “At home, they sprouted seeds to plant in the garden.”

Since volunteers’ gardening experience varies, the project has been educational for many, as detailed in their daily online journal at http://volunteer-garden.wikispaces.com/. In it, they recount what they did, problems encountered, solutions tried and successes (or failures) they’ve seen. At times, the posts take a humorous bent, especially when recounting attempts to control garden pests.

“The neatest thing is seeing how the garden has flourished,” said Lynn Cassidy, a Poway resident. “It puts mine to shame.”

Cassidy said while she has a vegetable garden at home, “I do not call myself a gardener because most (of the volunteers) know more than me.

“I know how to pull weeds and do a lot of watering,” she said.

Cassidy said her Saturday team is focusing on pest control via organic techniques.

“We always have ants and aphids, some caterpillars and I found for the first time something gnawed on a tomato,” Cassidy said. “A squirrel is my guess.”

Radatz said she is surprised how many people have joined the project, but added they can always use a few more. There is room to expand the garden. To volunteer, contact her at 858-485-5449 or jradatz@att.net.

“We’re definitely learning every single day, not just how to garden, but garden by committee,” she said. “It’s been an interesting experience itself.”

In addition volunteers, Radatz said the garden would not be possible without cash and in-kind donations. Sunshine Care contributed the land and water. Other major donors have been Palomar Pomerado Health, Kiwanis Club of Rancho Penasquitos, The Current Wisdom Foundation and Louise Siddall.

Other contributors are Grangetto’s Nursery in Escondido, Poway Nursery, Barons Marketplace, The Home Depot, Vons and Starbucks, Radatz said.

As for the garden’s inspiration — collecting excess fruits and vegetables from local yards since March 2009, Radatz said that project is a success. In last week’s monthly collection, Radatz said there was an increase in donations now that the Medfly quarantine has been lifted for those north of Rancho Bernardo Road.

“The collection varies by month, but has been as much as 2,800 pounds in a single month,” Radatz said.

Collection days have expanded. Homegrown produce can be left from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday outside Building C, behind The Connection Church, 14047 Twin Peaks Road in Poway and in a box on the back patio of The Church at Rancho Bernardo, 11740 Bernardo Plaza Court, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

Volunteer-staffed collections are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at Seven Oaks Community Center, 16789 Bernardo Oaks Drive in Rancho Bernardo, and The Connection Church, 14047 Twin Peaks Road in Poway. The next collection day is Thursday, Sept. 23.