Our “Good Stuff Garden” is Growing!
A big part of a camper’s day centers around food while they are here at Carson Simpson Farm. We offer a morning snack and a full lunch each day. We also offer a daily trip to the store where kids can choose to purchase sweet treats or cold drinks. Some of our special activities might include food, such as learning to make a campfire and cooking a marshmallow while we are at it. Needless to say, our campers have a lot of opportunities to fuel up and enjoy their camp day!
As fun as it is to provide for our campers in this way, we are keenly aware that not every kid has the same kind of access to food, let alone the fresh fruits and vegetables our campers are offered each day. It is for this reason that we started our Good Stuff Garden last year. We converted an open field into a small garden to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and herbs. Campers, staff and our Cornerstone Leaders would harvest the produce as it became ripe, and we would use some of the produce for camp and donate the rest to a local food bank in Philadelphia.
This year, we are excited to more than DOUBLE the size of our Good Stuff Garden! Our growth is in response to last year’s success and this year’s need. We have partnered with United Methodist Neighborhood Services (UMNS) Food Pantry in Philadelphia as a place that can best distribute our produce to those who need it. UMNS is a non-profit agency who serves anyone in need of food and clothing, including referrals from partnering social service agencies. They want to have a positive impact in the community by addressing people’s immediate needs, while also empowering them with resources to help them become self-sufficient. Everything is provided at no charge.
We are excited to partner with this agency as a way to reach into our communities and help meet tangible needs. At the same time, the Good Stuff Garden will also be a teaching resource to help campers (and also students) learn about where their food comes from, the importance of fresh food, and what it takes to grow food.
We are particularly thankful for Davisville Church for sending members to help prep the garden with compost. We are also thankful for all of the volunteers who helped during our annual Camp Work Day to get the garden and surrounding areas ready for the summer. Finally, we appreciate the financial support from Good Stuff Thrift which goes in part to support the garden, which is why we are calling it the Good Stuff Garden!
It takes a while for plants to grow, however, which is why for the month of May we are asking people to donate canned foods - especially canned vegetables like corn and green beans - to help bless the people using UMNS Food Pantry. All canned items can be dropped off at our camp office during business hours May 1 - June 1. Please consider joining us in supporting this organization in helping families have access to healthy food options, and help us spread the word about our canned food drive!
