Planting for the Poor:Atlantic City Rescue Mission Growing Own Food

[amyrose2712]

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP - Gary Vogel had never done farm work before Thursday, but he was quickly getting the hang of it.

Originally from Monmouth County, Vogel moved to Atlantic City in 1987, he said as he raked newly plowed rows of earth Thursday and pulled out grass and sticks. Twenty years after his move, he fell on hard times, became homeless and lived for nearly two years in the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

Vogel, 50, is now living in Barnabas House in Wildwood while he looks for a job. He wasn't busy Thursday and volunteered to help on the growing project.

"They said a good day's work wouldn't hurt, and I had no problem with that," Vogel said.

Actually, Vogel's hard work and that of his fellow volunteers will benefit a lot of people. The five-acre plot in the Goshen section of the township is a joint effort by the Atlantic City Rescue Mission and Mid Atlantic Resources for the Poor to grow food for people struggling to feed themselves and their families in tough economic times.

In addition to providing sustenance for those who need it, the idea is "to raise awareness of all the land in New Jersey that could be growing food to feed the people, said Bill Southrey, director of the Rescue Mission. " It was the Garden State. Now it's the blacktop state."

The Rescue Mission has spent about $300 so far on seedlings, got some donated supplies and hopes to get 50,000 pounds of produce from the lot, Southrey said.

Once harvested, the produce will be used to feed the residents of the mission and Barnabas House, since fresh vegetables are pricey and hard to come by, Southrey said. Any leftovers will be given to other organizations such as the food bank and Jean Webster's kitchen. And, of course, some will be left in the field for gleaners, per the Biblical injunction.


http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_65e49889-a0f3-5428-9661-69873104ea7b.html


http://www.jeanwebsterskitchen.com/index.html

[ensho]

1. wonderful - wishing their garden well

nt

[dcsmart]

2. great post K & R

inspiring

:fistbump: