Did you know that one in six New Hampshire households is food insecure? You might know someone experiencing food insecurity—a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. Hunger can affect people from all walks of life.

When families are facing hunger, food insecurity, and tighter budgets, it’s not always easy for them to access fresh, nutritious food options like fruits and vegetables.

Plant A Row—or Grow A Row—initiatives exist in various forms and under different names nationwide. These programs offer a hands-on way to increase the amount of fresh, locally grown produce available at food pantries for those in need.

The concept is simple: individuals, families, farmers, and community gardeners are encouraged to grow an extra row, container, or garden bed. The resulting produce can be donated to participating Plant A Row food pantries, shared with neighbors in need, or used to help supplement a family’s own produce intake.

Plant A Row’s success is rooted in community engagement. Participants sign up in the spring and receive a colorful garden kit that includes seeds, helpful resources, a fabric garden container, and gardening gloves. A self-report sheet helps track experiences and harvest quantities, along with a list of participating food pantries in Strafford and Rockingham Counties.

This year, participating families have shared positive feedback and photos of their gardens—kids with their hands in the dirt, planting, weeding, and harvesting.

Plant A Row is a true grassroots movement gaining momentum in New Hampshire. It not only supplies food pantries with fresh produce, but also fosters a culture of giving. Families learn about gardening together, observe how vegetables grow, explore different growing conditions, and deepen their understanding of food insecurity and how to support local food systems.

Participation grew from 25 individuals and families in 2021 to 189 sign-ups in 2022. We’re excited for what 2023 may bring and hope to see even more community members join in.

It’s not too late to get involved this fall—participating food pantries are still accepting donations of fresh, local produce. Even a one-time donation—like a bumper crop of zucchini—can make someone’s day healthier and brighter.

A list of food pantries currently accepting fresh produce donations is available on the Plant A Row website.