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As spring approaches and local gardeners start planning their crops, a new program at The ARK Community and Resource Center aims to tap into the bounty of homegrown produce to support families in need. The "Share the Harvest - Grow a Row" initiative invites community members to plant an extra row or two in their gardens this growing season and donate the harvest to help feed local families.
The idea, led by ARK Director Mike Turpin, is being propelled by the growing number of the nonprofit’s monthly food pantry clients – but not enough food to feed all of them. Turpin explained that over the past 18 months, the ARK was receiving a federal grant, called Farm to Families, that allowed him to purchase 200 pounds of meat every two weeks. That grant was recently slashed by more than half.
“That went down to 26 pounds every two weeks. Twenty-six pounds is not a lot when you're feeding hundreds of families,” Turpin said. “So what we hope is that this ‘Share the Harvest - Grow a Row’ will supplement what we're missing.”
Turpin recognized that many gardeners in the area often find themselves with more produce than they can use. "This time of year, gardeners get super excited about planning their gardens," he said. "And the only other thing they get excited about is when they have too much zucchini or too many tomatoes. They get such joy from sharing it with others."
To encourage people to give their produce to the program, the ARK is partnering with Wonder Gift and Garden to offer free seed packets to anyone interested in participating. "Joy … was thrilled to donate seeds that were nearing their expiration date but were still good for planting," Mike explained. These free seeds are now available for pickup at Noah’s Closet, where the community can get them in exchange for pledging to "share the harvest."
The program comes at a critical time, as The ARK is seeing an increasing number of families turning to its food pantry for support. While the organization was previously part of a federal grant program that provided regular food donations, budget cuts have reduced the amount of fresh produce they can receive.
In addition to the donated seeds, local farms like Harpeth Moon have been providing fresh produce to the pantry. However, that supply has also diminished. The ARK is partnering with local Eagle Scouts to build produce stands in front of its building, where anyone can drop off surplus vegetables and pick up fresh produce at no cost. "This isn't just for our clients; it's for anyone who needs food," Turpin emphasized.
Turpin hopes that they will be operational by the time the first vegetables are ready for harvest. "I want to have the stands set up before the first tomato ripens," he said. "If you're planning your garden, consider planting that extra row or plant. It could make a huge difference for someone in need."
The ARK encourages everyone to participate, whether by donating vegetables or picking up fresh produce. The variety of crops they hope to see donated is wide-ranging, from root vegetables like potatoes and carrots to leafy greens, tomatoes and zucchini. While donations will first go to the food pantry’s clients, any excess will be available to anyone in the community.
Mike’s vision is simple: "We want this to be a program that everyone can get behind. If you have the resources to share, you’re helping make sure no one in our community goes hungry."
Pick up your free seed packet at Noah’s Closet or The ARK today.
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