KAWARTHA LAKES: The crisp fall air and snow on the ground is a sure sign that the growing season is over here in the Kawarthas! Gardening tip: snow and frost make kale much sweeter in taste… now is the time to enjoy it! This summer was very successful in vegetable gardens across the City and Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) was the beneficiary of the most produce donations we have ever seen! Thank you to the farmers and back yard growers for donating 6,609 pounds of fresh produce! This is a 15 percent increase over last season. Eighteen different gardens donated potatoes, carrots, beans, onions, lettuce, radish, cabbage, zucchini, kale, cucumber, apples, spinach, tomatoes, plums and squash. Edward Binney’s Community Garden donated 34 percent and Brandeston Farms donated 22 percent of the total donations. Kawartha Lakes Food Source is also very proud to share that our Open Garden expanded yet again this spring and now comprises of 60 raised beds. The increase in beds allowed us to increase what we provided to food banks! We estimate that the total yield of the Open Garden was 2,216 pounds. With 1,583 pounds of that harvested by KLFS volunteers to be distributed to our member food banks. That means 633 pounds of produce went directly to those in our community who cannot afford to buy fresh food. The Open Garden also provides produce to support the Summer Outreach Lunch Program. The children enjoyed local cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and lettuce. Fresh food is so appreciated by guests of food banks. One guest shared that they enjoyed a tomato sandwich with bread they received from the food bank and a fresh, warm tomato from the Open Garden. KLFS is very proud to grow fresh, organic produce for those who could not otherwise afford it and need to put food on their families’ plates. The tastes and smells of fresh food from the garden can take you back to days past. When those tastes and smells are missing it serves as a reminder of the daily struggles to put food on the table. Therefore we are so grateful for each donation. Produce donations receive a charitable tax receipt if the market value is over $20. Thank you to the three dedicated volunteers Ray, Terry and Anne who built, planted, weeded and watered our gardens. Your passion and desire to help those who sometimes do not have enough does not go unnoticed. Thank you to all who shared your green thumb and we look forward to the next growing season!
About Kawartha Lakes Food Source Kawartha Lakes Food Source is a community effort to meet the need for readily accessible food and has been working in the City of Kawartha Lakes for the last 18 years. The distribution centre supports 10-member food banks and supplies 21 schools in our region with milk and fruit so that children will have the fuel needed to grow and learn. It is located at 41 George Street West, Lindsay and can be contacted by phone at 705-324-0707. Kawartha Lakes Food Source is a proud member of Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition and City of Kawartha Lakes-Haliburton Poverty Reduction Roundtable.