Planting and Harvesting Update:
30,362 Pounds Produced and Donated!!!
This year’s production has finally pulled ahead of last year’s, largely because of our wonderful potato crop. The garden gave us 7,300 pounds of potatoes this year compared to 1,800 pounds last year.
And hats off to okra. It’s great fried or in soups. The food pantries are clamoring for it. This year we harvested 254 pounds, versus 65 pounds in 2023. Some of the plants are 6-7 feet tall! Next year we will plant even more of it.
By the end of September, we produced and harvested 30,362 pounds of produce! This compares to 26,782 last year. Okra as high as a volunteer’s eye. (Or higher!) – To the Left
| PRODUCE POUNDS |
| Apples 1,050 |
| Beets 270 |
| Blueberries: 10 |
| Bush Beans: 1,290 |
| Broccoli: 5 |
| Cabbage: 3,489 |
| Cauliflower 90 |
| Collards: 562 |
| Cucumbers: 286 |
| Edamame: 30 |
| Eggplant: 348 |
| Garlic/Garlic Scapes: 273 |
| Ground cherries: 43 |
| Kale: 262 |
| Kohlrabi: 55 |
| Lima Beans: 45 |
| Lettuce: 225 |
| Okra: 254 |
| Onions: 160 |
| Peas: 380 |
| Peppers: 1,049 |
| Potatoes 7,315 |
| Radishes: 75 |
| Summer Squash: 370 |
| Sweet Corn: 680 |
| Swiss Chard: 407 |
| Tomatitoes: 194 |
| Tomatoes: 9,200 |
| Turnips: 60 |
| Watermelon: 1,400 |
| Winter Squash 15 |
| Zucchini: 470 |
| Total: 30,362 |
| DONATION SITES/POUNDS |
| Clive Food Pantry: 455 |
| Drake University: 230 |
| Fresh Start: 1,160 |
| Lutheran Services: 79 |
| CFUM: 4,823 |
| Joppa: 160 |
| St Theresa: 90 |
| St Marks Community Fridge: 1,595 |
| Trinity Los Americas: 5,830 |
| Johnston Food Pantry: 3,912 |
| WDM Human Services: 12,028 |
| Total Donated: 30,362 |
We Always Need Volunteers!
Volunteer hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Afternoon volunteer hours are available by appointment. Please text Mark Marshall at 515-988-5381 to volunteer in the afternoon. Please sign-up for morning hours HERE. No experience necessary.
Why sign-up? By signing up, you help us plan to make your volunteer experience more enjoyable. We are also able to notify you in case of a cancellation.
When volunteering in the garden, wear clothes that can get dirty and dress for the weather. Bring garden gloves if you have them; otherwise, we can provide them. We have all the tools you will need.
Thank you for your help!
Large groups volunteer by appointment. School, church, civic, and corporate groups are always welcome in the garden by appointment. Send a message to info@growthefood.org to learn about volunteering that fits your group’s schedule.