Jasper County gardeners are giving back to their community by donating thousands of pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries. The goal of this effort is to help feed the 1 in 8 food-insecure Iowans in Jasper County.

Master Gardeners Leading the Effort

Every Monday and Thursday, Master Gardeners on the produce committee work to put out fresh produce to local food pantries. The produce includes vegetables, salad greens, beans, and fruit. Peg Ragnar, a Master Gardener for 7 years, emphasized the importance of giving back to the community.

Mark Monroe, a Master Gardener for 13 years and resident of Jasper County for more than 40 years, also shared his enthusiasm for the program. He highlighted the variety of skills and interests among the Master Gardeners, from flower specialists to vegetable specialists.

Expanding the Program’s Reach

Over the program’s 8 years, they’ve provided over 14,000 pounds of fresh produce to Jasper County. The program also offers hands-on activities, classes, and serves as a resource for any questions. Carol Camp, the Master Gardener Program Coordinator, mentioned a class they offer for food pantry clients, teaching container gardening, which they call ‘gardening 101’.

The Iowa State extension program works across the state, and DMACC’s Newton Campus hosts the Inspiration Garden, which has been brought to life by donations. An open house for the garden is scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9-10:30 a.m.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.