Garden Plots yield 3,044 pounds of produce for Loaves & Fishes in 2016

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, a group of 53 Naperville Park District volunteers gathered up the leftovers of the 2016 gardening season at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots on West Street in Naperville. The gleaning yielded 856 pounds of nutritious vegetables that were donated to Loaves & Fishes Community Services to provide healthy choices for area families who are receiving food through the service.

Volunteers of all ages worked together, including Metea Valley Vocational students, Naperville Evening Kiwanis, Garden Plot Ambassadors, Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension and Naperville Community Gardeners, members of Naperville Community Gardeners, students from the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) day program, and other individuals.

"We greatly appreciate the organizations and individuals that provide freshly picked, healthy produce for our market," said Cary Gilkey, vice president of operations for Loaves & Fishes Community Services. "These generous contributions make a beautiful and appealing display for our neighbors."

Master Gardeners Ron Ory and Logan Wasson developed the idea to glean vegetables at the Garden Plots in 2011, when the first group of volunteers gathered 160 pounds of vegetables. The master gardeners maintain their own garden plots, called "Plant a Row," dedicated to providing produce for Loaves & Fishes all summer long. Other gardeners donate vegetables as well, using a donation station set up at the plots during the gardening season.

The 2016 yield from "Plant a Row" and donations from other gardeners throughout the season was 2,188 pounds. The total amount of fresh vegetables donated in 2016 from the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots to Loaves & Fishes including the Oct. 11 gleaning was 3,044 pounds.