Serve others through Gardening
By Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago
I have always liked this phrase because it reminds me that the great thing about our actions is not based on the size of the action or the number of people it impacts, but rather on the gesture itself of wanting to collaborate, even if it is to serve only one person.
To collaborate and do our part, it is not necessary to wait for the United Nations (UN) to recruit us. We can start from the patio of our houses or by separating a part of our free time.
Many of us prefer to get involved in volunteer activities related to topics like gardening, agriculture and education.
Here I share four ideas on how we could start helping others and even redefine our voluntary activities in the context of the pandemic. Remember to follow all the necessary security protocols for your health and for your Country.
1. Plant an extra row- From your patio, roof or balcony you can help other people by planting a little more to allocate the excess of your production to distribute it among people you know or with the help of organizations dedicated to the preparation and distribution of food.
According to Feeding America, due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 54 million people could experience food insecurity in 2020, including 18 million children. This means that they are or will have diets below the appropriate level and will need to search for emergency food or simply go through the day without eating.
Make sure which agencies, organizations or soup kitchens in your community or municipality accept fresh fruits and vegetables for when your harvest is ready and plan the delivery. Remember to coordinate if a representative will collect your donation or the days and times when you can deliver them personally.
2. Volunteer in community gardens- In this type of gardens extra hands are always welcome, especially when there is already a defined work structure or direction. Donations or the direct purchase of the garden production also contributes, but it is during the maintenance or expansion phase for new crops that volunteers are constantly needed.
Fortunately, through social networks we can know where and what organizations may need our collaboration. You don't necessarily have to live in the area to help.
3. Help other gardeners - maintaining the yard and garden is an everyday task that adds to responsibilities within the home and beyond. When we get sick for several days or receive a diagnosis that requires extreme care so as to not expose ourselves and further weaken our immune system, our plants are the first to suffer the consequences, since we can no longer care for them as before.
Seeing the neglected yard in no way contributes to the mood. So collaborating with irrigation, weeding and even fruit harvesting can contribute to a person's speedy recovery. If you know that a family member, neighbor or friend is going through a situation like this, you can offer yourself as Gardensitter for a period or until he recovers. You can even help by covering pruning and gardening services in general, as well as organizing special brigades among some friends.
4. Gleaning- It is the act of collecting the crops left in the field (including in the trees) that supposedly have no commercial value. This activity is carried out after the commercial harvest. It is an activity that has gained popularity in recent years, especially among agricultural activists and organizations dedicated to eradicating hunger among their communities as an additional solution to reduce food waste and increase food security.
Many agricultural companies and farmers collect these crops and donate them directly to organizations, while others allow representatives and volunteers from non-profit organizations to enter the planting area on specific days and harvest or collect the fruits left in the field. . [It is possible that due to the pandemic, some farms have suspended this type of activity and / or implemented stricter protocols].
There are federal laws in the US, such as the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, that protect volunteers, organizations, and farmers from potential civil and criminal lawsuits when they donate food with good intentions. But it is always important to review other laws and how they can vary between each state and/or country.
Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago is the founder of Agrochic.com and is Certified in Horticultural Therapy by the Chicago Botanic Garden.