This past week I came across a really neat program that is just getting off the ground.  Ample Harvest is a grass roots effort to connect food banks with gardeners and farmers.

Many gardeners are aware of the Plant a Row movement that encourages people to plant one row of vegetables or one plant, and give the produce from the row to a food bank. This is an excellent program and is well coordinated in many areas. Finding a food bank though that can accept the fresh donations is not always easy.

Many food banks rely on packaged goods that are donated by individuals, or large organizations.These items are easily stacked, last for several weeks and can be distributed from central county warehouses to smaller depots where the needy can pick up the food.

Over the years I have spent many hours assembling boxes with food for the hungry and frankly I was dismayed at the quality - heavily sweetened kiddy cereals, and foods with empty calories. Very little fresh food was there, fresh vegetables (or even frozen) were nowhere around. If anyone had fresh food it had to go to a soup kitchen which was not always convenient if you are in suburbia.

So Ample Harvest hopes to go further than PAR, and involve not just gardeners, but farmers too. Particularly sought are those who are small produce farmers selling on farm markets. Many times these farmers have some left over and what does not sell, is ditched. Farmers do not have time to search out where to take it. Gardeners with just a small bag of tomatoes may feel that this is not enough to take to a food bank.

Ample Harvest will be able to connect these people with others like them and direct them to the nearest food bank. The site also encourages traditional food banks to accept fresh produce. If the Food Bank is open on Wednesdays then they can accept farm fresh food on Tuesday as much of it does not need to be refrigerated. Knowing what the food bank needs, is a great step in the right direction.  In tomato season, they may be happy to have a small table where gardeners can put there extra items. One gardener with a small bag of tomatoes alongside several other gardeners can fill a table with fresh tomatoes for people who maybe have not had one for many months. Perhaps a farmer has to miss a market or cannot harvest all the produce in the field. This can be directed to a place where someone who really needs it can use it.

This is a great program that gardeners and small farmers can, and should, embrace. So check the site out, and visit your local food banks to see if they will sign up. Promote the idea to your farming friends so that they know were and when they can drop off contributions. People who use a food bank deserve fresh food and in today's economy there are more people than ever who need the help. So don't let the tomatoes get over ripe because you cannot can any more, bug your local food bank to take them, or set up your own table outside the food bank so that people can help themselves.

Gary Oppenheimer, who started the program is a guest on America's Home Grown Veggie Show at 10am Saturday morning on www.radiosandysprings.com . You can hear why he started the program, and how you can help. This will be a live show and you can call in with your questions. 866- 356-0789.