The Harvest for the Hungry Garden

The Harvest for the Hungry Garden was founded in 1987 by Muchtar Salzmann, owner of Emerisa Gardens, and Marge Cerleti. They established the Harvest Garden to grow food for the hungry. Christ Church United Methodist generously loaned the use of a 3/4 acre parcel of land behind their church to help feed low income residents of Sonoma County. Currently the Harvest Garden donates approximately 10,000 lbs of organically grown produce to 5 different food programs.

By 1996 Geoff Rauch and Lyn Howe had taken over for Marge and Muchtar. They initiated a new program for the garden. In addition to growing organic produce, Lyn and Geoff added wildlife habitat areas, a drip irrigation system, and initiated new gardening practices such as the use of green manures (cover crops) and biodynamic compost.

In 1998 the Garden received a grant from the Community Foundation Sonoma County to install the Wildlife Habitat Garden. In 1999, with a second grant from the Community Foundation, a neighborhood habitat workshop, led by Lyn Howe, was held to educate the Garden's residential neighbors in the art and value of fostering wildlife habitat in their own backyards. One hundred people attended.

Also around that time, Vivien Hillgrove, owner of Mom's Head Gardens in Santa Rosa, Lynn and the Sonoma County Herb Association designedand installed the Medicinal Plant Garden, replete with many herbs still in use today.

In 2000-01 Lynn & Geoff designed our Backyard Demonstration Garden. It includes many water-wise plants, fruit trees (pear, apple & persimmon), 2 raised vegetable beds, a rose arbor, culinary herbs, and many California natives. 

With the help of many volunteers, the Garden continues to thrive. Classes and workshops are held each spring, summer, and fall. Our annual Spring Plant Sale is a regular community event and supports the Garden throughout the year. Come join us!

The Harvest Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This website was designed and authored by Fawn Moran. Many of the photos were taken by Lyn Howe, Martin Cibulka, Fawn Moran, and other Garden volunteers.

 

Harvest for the Hungry Garden ~ 1717 Yulupa Avenue ~ Santa Rosa, CA  95405