Reprinted from Renaissance, the newsletter of the New Hampshire Center for a Food Secure Future.

As we move deeper into the economic downturn, food assistance programs are being asked to provide for an increasing number of New Hampshire families. While meeting the needs of so many requires collaboration on several fronts, the Giving Gardens Network has begun work on a cooperative campaign to promote and support the donation of food from home gardens, CSAs, and farms and farmers' markets to food pantries and shelters. This initiative is intended to complement the diverse and established programs already in place around the state, while assisting the development of new efforts.

According to the NH Foodbank, their food distribution is about 40% higher than a year ago and food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters are seeing a similar increase in service demand. This increase in demand comes as donations to food assistance programs are falling. At the same time, more New Hampshire residents are turning to home gardens to meet a portion of their own food supply. The excess food that is frequently grown by these new and existing home gardeners, as well as by local farmers, presents an opportunity to alleviate some of the state's food assistance need as many food pantries and shelters are capable of accepting fresh food.

The Giving Gardens Network was established to help support and expand on the existing efforts around the state that are already advocating for the donation of this locally raised excess harvest. The GGN is currently identifying partners and working to create a web-based portal that will provide the resources needed to plan efforts, grow the most needed items, and donate to the right locations.

While these resources are being developed, the concept driving the Giving Gardens Network is being promoted through established partners in order to encourage New Hampshire residents to plan to grow a little extra... to grow foods that are most needed... and to donate to locations that can accept fresh foods.

To get involved and to begin to plan for this season, visit the Giving Gardens Network website or email for more information.

Written by Chris Skoglund

• Learn more about the New Hampshire Center for Food Secure Future
• List of localvore groups working with New Hampshire food systems
• Listen to NHPR's The Exchange: New Effort to Fight Hunger in the Garden State
• Read more about food assistance programs in New Hampshire