By Scout Nelson
A retired aviation maintenance manager has transformed his greenhouse into a symbol of hope for families struggling with food insecurity. Last year, he donated over 600 vegetable plants to the Northfield Community Action Center’s food shelf, providing fresh food to many local families.
These plants were not ordinary seedlings. They were carefully selected varieties of tomatoes and peppers, often valued at $5 or $6 each in garden centers. Each donation came with bilingual care instructions in English and Spanish, making it easy for families to grow their own produce successfully.
Deliveries were made in batches of 40 plants, and within an hour, they would all be claimed. This continued until more than 600 plants had been donated. Inspired by this effort, a local greenhouse also began contributing more plant varieties for food shelf clients.
The Master Gardener’s passion for gardening started in childhood with a single cucumber plant. “The plant put on a bloom, then a cucumber, and the cucumber got bigger. Everyone was excited for me and excited for my ‘little cucumber that could.’ I was hooked,” he recalls with a smile.
After a long career in the Marines and aviation, he now devotes his time to community service through gardening. His commitment grew stronger when he joined the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program in Goodhue County. Using his home greenhouse, he launched an ambitious plant donation project.
His dedication to fighting food insecurity goes beyond plant donations. He volunteers at the Northfield Food Shelf and helps start "Growing Connections," a garden project at his church that has donated over 8,000 pounds of produce to the Kenyon Food Shelf.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-fatcamera
Categories: Minnesota, General