The Great Potato Harvest of 2009

We've been anticipating today for some time now-- the day we pull out the work horses (literally) and dig up the quarter acre of potatoes we have planted on the college farm. Besides some intrepid peppers and a plot each of cabbage and broccoli, the potatoes were the last of the crops to be harvested from the farm this season. At the time of writing, more than 5,000 lbs. of potatoes have been brushed off and bagged up for local food pantries, and there are still three more rows to go.

We started this morning at 10:30 and I counted more than fifty people throughout the day out in the field with buckets, muddied boots and jeans and smiles all around. Monte Anderson brought three of his Animal & Crop Science classes out to help, and a smattering of local agencies and other community members stopped by to pitch in.

We delivered 3,626 lbs. to Sugartree Ministries at noon, and the rest will be distributed between Clinton County Community Action, the homeless shelter and a few other faith-based organizations.

60 Minutes was in town again today to film the potato harvest. They were here about a month ago to film our community garden and interview the families involved. They are planning a 'Wilmington revisited' segment, which will air a year after their first story after the DHL pullout. Hopefully Grow Food, Grow Hope will be a prominent aspect of that story.

Below are photos from the day, and I'll have an official number of pounds for tomorrow's Weekly Food Roundup.