With some families struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic fresh produce is hard to come by.
That’s why a group of master gardeners is stepping up to help out. Their garden is tucked away behind Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian Church
“It started in 2003. The church wanted to give back to the community so they contacted the extension and they started out by just planting tomatoes,” Alice Bacon, crew leader at Hope Garden, told 6 News.
Seventeen years later the garden blossomed and now covers a fifth of an acre. They are growing a lot more than just tomatoes now
“Eggplant, okra, green beans, a variety of squashes. Summer squashes as well as winter squashes,” Jan McAlpine, crew leader, told 6 News.
Twenty master gardeners tend to the Hope Garden. “Hope” stands for “Helping Omaha’s People Eat.” Twice a week produce is harvested and given to the Heartland Hope Mission in South Omaha.
Last Tuesday, 250 pounds of fresh produce was harvested for the Heartland Hope Mission. "We average between seven and 10,000 pounds per year, per season,” Bacon says.
Now, with the pandemic putting a strain on families’ ability to buy the food they need, the Hope Garden and the team who tend it are needed more than ever.
“I can’t think of a better way to serve the community than to have a garden that we grow fresh produce,” Bacon says.
(Photo: 6 News)