The basis of Ample Harvest is to rescue produce for gardeners that grow too much - Don’t let it go to waste in the garden, collect it and donate it to the local food pantry. The pantry client benefits with nutritious food.
We have operations at both Apple Acres and Wallisch Homestead.
We supplement the process with a dedicated plot at each garden.
Flags and Ample Harvest Flag System are posted near the gate in both gardens. Community gardeners are encouraged to share their bounty as the garden starts to produce.
We have 2 Ample Harvest schedules to ensure fresh delivery.
At Apple Acres on Saturdays, 8:30 AM, serving the pantries open on Saturday
At Wallisch on Thursdays, 10AM, serving the pantries open during the week
Upcoming Ample Harvest events:
Weed and water (ongoing)
Harvest (weekly at each garden)
Replant for 2nd crops
Our tally as of the end of July is 107 pounds and the tomatoes haven’t started yet!
Our harvests to date have been the early summer crops - snow peas, lettuce, beets and the always ever faithful chard and kale. Fresh oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary and mint are small in size and packed a powerful flavor punch. The pantries have also enjoyed the heavy zucchini producers - a bountiful way to help the food insecure. We have successfully contributed to our food pantries on a rotating basis: Holy Faith Luthern, Queen of Peace, St. Joseph’s, SOS, West Milford Presbyterian.
Suggestions for improving our operation are always welcome and we are seeking volunteers to come help plant, tend, harvest and deliver.
We’re looking forward to the upcoming production of tomatoes and beans - we will need help in the garden to harvest in August !
Learn more about Ample Harvest and our system for rescuing produce from local gardens for distribution to local pantries on the NCWM website.
For any topics related to the West Milford Ample Harvest program at our community gardens, please reach out to Cathy Bruce at cgb2673@optonline.net or 201-264-3528
