It's always fun to begin harvesting for the season and get rewarded for our efforts with beautiful fresh produce. Equally rewarding is the ability to donate and share our carefully nurtured and nutritious bounty.
This is the seventh growing season for Neighbor's Nourishing Communities, and we had a record turnout for our plant handout this year, with nearly double the number of gardeners. We're excited to see how that will translate into record produce donations to help address hunger in our community. Last year, NNC gardeners donated over 4,300 pounds of produce. Small donations by each of us consistently throughout the growing season add up to make a big impact. Let's work together to donate even more this year.
What to Donate: Consider harvesting and donating fruits and vegetables that store and transport well, even without continuous refrigeration. The Tualatin Food Pantry has limited refrigeration. So leafy greens/herbs and really ripe fruit may not be picked up before it wilts/spoils.
Where to Donate: You can donate directly to the Tualatin Food Pantry, your local food pantry, or a family in need. Knowing that the Tualatin Food Pantry is not open on weekends, we also have locations in North and South Tualatin for weekend produce donations that can be dropped off at your convenience. Produce donated over the weekend will be transported to the Tualatin Food Pantry on Mondays for distribution.
- North Tualatin Donation Point: 17660 SW Shawnee Trail
- South Tualatin Donation Point: 9412 SW Arikara Drive
- Tualatin Food Pantry: 3550 SW Borland Rd, Tualatin, OR
(at Rolling Hills Community Church, east side of the building)
|
|
|
|
When to Donate:
For donations at the North and South Tualatin Donation Points, please leave produce in the driveway basket marked with a Neighbors Nourishing Communities sign. Donations may be dropped off at any time over the weekend, however these donation sites are both residences with limited refrigeration space, so if possible, please leave your donation Sunday afternoon / evening, or Monday morning before noon.
The Tualatin Food Pantry hours are reduced due to COVID-19, and are shown below. Produce that is donated directly to the Pantry may be donated any time that they are open. Please do not leave produce when they are closed.
Monday: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
How to Donate:
We need to know how much you have donated. So whether you donate to a family you know that needs help, to a local pantry, or Tualatin Food Pantry, we need an estimate of how many pounds were donated. This ensures that our grantors continue to support our program so we can provide free plants and seeds. We would not exist if we were not showing progress.
- For donations at the North or South Tualatin Donation Points: please leave your produce in the basket provided, in a bag marked with your name, and approximate weight of the produce donation. Note that we will weigh the produce if you do not have the ability, but don't forget to label with your name so that we know who to credit for the donation.
- For direct donations: to families, the Tualatin Food Pantry, or other local pantries, please note the weight of your donation and e-mail NNC with your name, the amount of produce donated (weight), and the donation recipient.
Our e-mail address: neighborsnc@gmail.com
Keeping track of our donations as an organization is important to charting our growth and measuring our impact. We also track donations and provide prizes at the end of the season harvest party! |
|
|
|
|
Addressing Equity at NNC
Since our organization’s inception, the mission of Neighbors Nourishing Communities, “To reduce hunger and strengthen communities through gardening”, has never been more prevalent. Covid-19 has brought health disparities overwhelmingly to the surface of the national narrative, illuminating the results of centuries of systemic oppression on perpetually underserved citizens. The recognition of prevalent police brutality on communities of color and protests to end racially biased policies in our country and across the world has brought us to a divergence.
One path of this divergence takes the road many of us in the nonprofit world have found ourselves traveling along for quite some time - acknowledging inequities and stating our intentions to change the status quo. This path holds an incredible dream - that we can build an equitable society - but is unclear on the steps to get there. To be fair, educating ourselves to understand the roots of inequity is a vital part of the work to create a fair and safe society for everyone. Acknowledging that our approaches to providing “for all” are challenged by our own education, social circles and world views will inevitably lead us toward a more equitable approach.
The second path, however, is the one NNC has elected to travel from this point onward. This is a path of action, specifically for equity. In effect, we commit to the following:
- To partner with local schools and social institutions to reevaluate our current garden outreach, distribution and educational strategies so that they will equitably benefit local communities of color.
- To engage in directed outreach to invite members of color to the NNC Board of Directors over the next year.
- To ask for grace and open-heartedness as we continue this vital community work.
We are so grateful for your support, and the incredible work that has been contributed by our gardeners and members up to this point. We are invigorated to dive into this next chapter that our shared humanity demands of us - together.
The Board of Directors at NNC:
Chad Darby
Frank Bubenik
Robert Kellogg
Caitlin Blood
Peggy Fisher
Morgan Darby
Evan Wiesner
Chris Davis
|
|
|
|
Plant Handout - Our Largest Ever!
|
|
|
Thanks to all who participated in our plant handout this year. We had a record-breaking turnout, with 78 gardeners signing on with NNC this season to grow nutritious produce for their families and the community. We appreciated your patience as we signed people in and navigated social distancing. A special thanks to the Winona Grange who also provided seeds and garden tips.
|
|
|
|
Green Bean Salad
Green beans are in season and here’s a quick and delicious recipe from Food Network for using them, along with some cherry tomatoes. A great summer salad!
1 lb of slender green beans
1 cup cherry tomatoes - halved
2 tblsp diced red onion
1 large clove garlic
1 tblsp fresh basil
3 tblsp olive oil
2 tblsp red wine vinegar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 cup feta cheese crumbles
- Boil a large pot of salted water and add the green beans. Cook just until tender-crisp – about 1 – 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the beans from the boiling water and immediately place them in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes to cool. Drain and pat the beans dry, and then combine them in a bowl with the feta cheese, tomatoes and red onions.
- Toast the slivered almonds in the oven or a small skillet until just browned (2-3 minutes in a skillet, 4 – 5 minutes in the oven).
- Wisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the green beans and sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Let marinate in the refrigerator for one hour before serving.
|
|
Newsletter Signup
Please forward our newsletter to others who may be interested in gardening with us. If you are interested in receiving our newsletters and not currently on our subscriber list, please contact us at neighborsnc@gmail.com.
|
|
Neighbors Nourishing Communities (NNC) is an organization of neighbors gardening to raise fresh produce for local families in need of food support. We provide plants, seeds, instruction and site consultations in exchange for 20% of the produce raised. Visit our website at www.neighborsnc.org.
|
|
|
|
|
