The Westport Community Gardens is a wonderful place. Dozens of gardeners — from families with little children to folks in their 80s — grow fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs and grasses, in all kinds of designs and configurations.
They joyfully share their bounty with others. The Grow-A-Row fresh food initiative encourages gardeners to grow an extra row — or more — to donate.
Last year the program donated nearly 100 grocery bags loaded with fresh, organically grown produce to the The Center for Food Equity and Economic Development (FEED) in Bridgeport. Their culinary training program team prepares the donated food, distributes meals to soup kitchens throughout Bridgeport, and runs a food truck to reach neighborhoods that lack access to fresh food.
Some of the food donations grown and collected at the Westport Community Garden through the Grow-A-Row initiative last summer.
This year, Grow-A-Row — with partners Sustainable Westport and the Zero Food Waste Initiative — invites all Westport home gardeners, everywhere in town, to participate.
They’ll even get you started, with seeds.
The Grow-A-Row Project received a generous donation of vegetable seeds from the University of Connecticut Extension Master Gardeners Program. They include radishes, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra and squashes. Seeds are available for pickup at Branson Hall, at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Seeds are limited to first come, first served. But all home gardeners in Westport are welcome to donate whatever they grow.
Once harvested, all fresh produce and herb donations can be dropped off at Branson Hall.
Questions? Email amyunikewicz@gmail.com.
