Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1

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Gardening: I grew up helping both of my grandfathers
and my mom in the garden. I admit, I probably was
only involved so I could nibble certain veggies before
they even made it to the house. (I loved freshly shelled
peas.) As a child, I likely hated some of the weeding
grunt work. Despite lack of sincere interest at the time,
I did learn. I wish I could pick the minds of all three
of those gardeners again, now that I know more about
what to ask! As an adult, I have had a garden for more
than 45 years. I continue to learn new research-based
strategies and techniques to improve food we grow
and love processing for storage whether pressure
canning, drying, dehydrating, or freezing. There is true
satisfaction in growing, preparing for winter, and then
eating our own produce throughout the year. (Fulfilling
another passion!)
Food Security: A major path for gardening, and
a passion for me, is working with Up from the Earth
(UFTE), a local initiative and 100% volunteer system
designed to connect excess fresh produce from home
gardens to people in need through our existing food
pantry system. Established in 2014, the program
has recruited 30 local collection sites to achieve this
objective.
From Feeding America.org October 2020 Update
Gundersen, C., M. Hake, A. Dewey, E. Engelhard (2020).
The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food Insecurity in 2020,
Update October 2020 [Data file and FAQ]. Available form
Feeding America: research@feedingamerica.org
UFTE promotes the motto “Plant, Grow, Share” to help
feed those in need. To date, community support of Up
from the Earth has put more than 152,000 pounds of
fresh produce into the food pantry system and we’re
still waiting on a few of the 2020 season reports to
come in. That poundage equals 456,000 servings of
fresh produce!! Thanks to our generous community
volunteers and gardeners, 2020 has shaped up to be
another banner year.
I can think of other passions I have, such as maintaining
relationships with friends, reading good books,and
listening to music (participating at times). Before
COVID-19, I played in the Solid Brass Handbell Choir
at Grace UMC. We will be back when it is safe! During
the winter months, a new passion I’ve discovered
is delving further into our family history through
Ancestry. I’ve already ordered and organized seeds
that will be used to garden plants from seed inside,
starting some soon, and the rest in mid-February on
into spring. Am I proficient at all of these? I can give
a hardy no! However, they are some of my passions,
and as a lifelong learner, I will continue to grow my
knowledge base, my skills, and my interest. Some of
the seedlings I grow will be given to clients at food
pantries, and others shared with friends, family, and
others who will grow them to help increase food
security locally.
Consider taking some time soon to create your list
of passions. What are they? Why did you choose
those passions? How can you share these passions
with others? In the end, it is often about community:
family, friends, neighbors, schools, churches, and
more! Make the most of your passions in 2021! Happy
New Year!
Jenny Jorgensen, a retired educator and Master
Gardener. She also keeps busy working with the Up From
the Earth team to increase food security in the Siouxland
area. Though retired, she finds many other areas to serve
her community, including being elected to the Woodbury
County Extension Council.
Up From The Earth exists to connect extra produce
from home gardens to people in need.
Photo Contributed by Jenny Jorgensen.