Contributions Help Grow Food Programs

 HARWICH – The People’s Garden and the People’s Fridge are getting strong support, based on the success of the operations, which supply fresh produce and meals to needed families and individuals in the community.

 A new greenhouse and donations from local markets will help grow the program, which was started last summer through the health and conservation departments. Like vegetables in sunlight it has continued to grow.

 “Our goals in creating this program is to help educate the community to grow its own food, build community resiliency, and engagement while providing fresh, free produce to the community,” Health Department Director Carrie Schoener said.

 The People’s Fridge is located in the community center where each week it is stocked with fresh produce and some prepared meals. The People’s Garden has blossomed this year with plots at the cultural center and the community garden at the base of Sisson Road. It is estimated that 200 pounds of fresh produce has been grown and distributed from the plots.

 The success of the programs was recognized last week with major contributions. The Harwich Conservation Trust is donating a greenhouse to the program previously located at the Pine Island property in the Herring River that the trust is acquiring. The six-by-eight-foot plexiglass and aluminium greenhouse needed a new home.  

 In a memo to the select board, which must accept gifts to the town, Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski wrote that the greenhouse would be relocated to the garden on the front lawn of the 204 Sisson Cultural Municipal Building. The department of public works has agreed to move the greenhouse, and Usowski said she would pursue the shed registration and permitting.

Director of Cultural Affairs Kara Mewhinney approved the location, according to Usowski. The greenhouse has an estimated value of under $1,000.

Shaw’s/Star Market is also recognizing the success of the program. Teresa Edington, manager of external communications and community relations for the company, announced it will be make a $2,500 pledge to the People’s Fridge.

“We applaud your commendable efforts in your community,” she said.

The Whole Foods market in Hyannis has contacted the health and conservation departments expressing a desire to donate 96 bags of seed starter and potting mix to the People’s Garden. The estimated value of the gift is $867. 

“This soil would help us start our seedlings for the next growing season for the People’s Garden, which supplies our People’s Fridge at the community center with fresh, local produce,” Schoener and Usowski wrote in a memo asking the board to accept the gift. 

“It would also be possible for us to give some of this soil away to the Harwich Elementary School garden and give some of it away to members of our community if we had a community planting day,” according to the memo. 

 The program is also starting to provide educational programs so people can learn how to grow their own food, cook with it and preserve it. The People’s Fridge coordinators are also looking for volunteers to help manage the gardens and help with the public education endeavors.

 The select board accepted the gifts Monday.