Special Thanks!
- Bonnie Plants
- Alameda Greenhouse
- Jericho Nursery
- Lowe’s Home Improvement #2879 and #1636
- The Home Depot #3517 and #3504
- Sandoval Extension Master Gardener members
- Seed2Need volunteers
- Local community members, family, and friends.
Seed2Need is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing produce for local food pantries and soup kitchens in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties.
There are two gardens and an orchard. All are located in Corrales on land donated by local property owners. Crops include tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupe, green chile, green beans, squash, cabbage and broccoli. In total we have approximately 2-acres, with 140 trees. The orchard includes several varieties of apple, peach, pear, plum, and cherry.
The harvest at the gardens typically begins in late July. However, peak harvest is typically late August or early September depending on weather and rain. When we don’t have a late frost, September is the peak for gleaning as well.
Apple maggot flies are a tiny quarter-inch fly that lays its eggs by piercing the skin of the apple. Each female apple maggot fly can lay hundreds of eggs.
Seed2Need Project
With three gardens spanning over 2-acres, Seed2Need requires an army of volunteers to get everything planted and harvested quickly. With the assistance of eagle scouts, and hundreds of volunteers, thousands of seeds and seedlings were planted within three hours on an early morning in mid May, 2015.
TedTalks
Josette Sheeran, the head of the UN’s World Food Program, talks about why, in a world with enough food for everyone, people still go hungry, still die of starvation, still use food as a weapon of war. Her vision: “Food is one issue that cannot be solved person by person. We have to stand together.”
“There are many things that you can volunteer for, but this has a specific purpose. It is the most rewarding project that we have been involved with.“
SCMG Master Gardener & Volunteers
“Seed2Need has been a godsend to St. Felix Pantry in Rio Rancho. The fresh produce brought to us has literally saved many needy families from a serious hunger crisis this summer.“
St. Felix Food Pantry, Rio Rancho, NM
“The Gardens: The work is hard. The pay sucks, but the cause is great. The volunteers are wonderful and the gratification is magnificent.“
Former Seed2Need Board Member
“The garden is magical. Not only does it provide food for many people, it also nurtures the many people that work in it. It has grown so much that it spread its wealthy spirit beyond the Master Gardeners to many others, ranging from boy scouts to grandchildren.”
SCMG Master Gardener & Volunteer
“Being out in the New Mexico sunshine, Sandhill Cranes or hot air balloons overhead, strangers collaborating to benefit community, rather than themselves...what a beautiful, and painless, way to give of yourself.“
Seed2Need Volunteer
“On behalf of our hungry neighbors, I want to thank you and all of the people who made this year's bountiful harvest possible! Those fresh veggies will definitely be missed by our clients! I'll be praying for a wet winter and great growing season next year.”
Exec Dir, Rio Grande Food Project