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Plot Against Hunger Ventures into the 18th Century
By L.J. Crye
One of the fruits of attending the Arlington Green Expo on March 17 this year was an offer from the Ball-Sellers House for Plot Against Hunger to cultivate their garden. Plot, in the form of Michael Polovina, leapt at the opportunity.
The Ball-Sellers House is an 18th Century structure and the oldest house in Arlington. It is a one-room structure with a loft and an addition where farmer John Ball lived with his wife and five daughters, running a farm.
The garden as it looked in March; original house is on right, behind wisteria vine.)
The garden is in back of the house and fenced. When Michael first looked at it, it was in the normal condition of a garden in early spring. The people who manage Ball-Sellers House asked him to make the garden as authentic as possible. Given much of what we eat today from the garden was not in cultivation in the 18th Century, he is making some exceptions.
Background shows structures for pole beans;foreground is where squash have been planted.
Last weekend, the county delivered mulch, which Michael and volunteers spread. They have planted pole beans, patty pan squash, lettuce, and some tomatoes. More planting will be done this coming weekend, weather permitting. If you are interested in being added to Michael’s volunteer email list, email him at mspolovina@verizon.net.
A view of the garden enclosure from the yard.
All the fruits of this labor will, of course, go to AFAC! We look forward to seeing the garden grow.
What is AFAC Plot Against Hunger?
The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) Plot Against Hunger Program supports AFAC’s vision of providing access to nutritious food for all residents of Arlington, Virginia in need through donations of produce from local gardeners and farmers and through gleaning. The Program promotes edible gardening through schools, faith-based and community organizations. It seeks to educate AFAC clients and others to the many ways fresh produce can be sustainably grown and incorporated into a healthy diet.
Read More: What is Plot Against Hunger?
Read The Arlington Sun Gazette Article About Plot Against Hunger (with video).
How To Plot Against Hunger
Start a new Plot Against Hunger this year:
Are you a church, business, group or individual with some land suitable
for a garden? Can you get a group together to maintain the garden for
the growing season? The AFAC client list has grown from last year and we
need more produce to distribute to clients. We can offer advice and
seeds. We can also send someone to talk to your group.
Follow this link for some tips on how to start a Plot Against Hunger: Gardenwriters.org how to start a garden or read about a church in Iowa
that started a garden that grows produce for their local food bank (the
second article also has useful related content to read (on the right
side of the web page)).
Contact Puwen Lee at (703) 845-8486, or send an email to: puwen.lee@afac.org for more information.
Purchase one of our organic t-shirts and help spread the word about AFAC's fresh produce program.
These extremely soft, organic cotton t-shirts will keep you or a gardening friend comfortable all year-round.
$15 (includes postage and handling). Sizes run small; order one size larger. Submit an order form here or send your check, along with the requested size and your shipping address to Puwen Lee, The Arlington Food Assistance Center, 2708 S. Nelson Street, Arlington, VA 22206. (703) 845-8486.
Get your Plot Against Hunger Shirt!
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Starting Now! -- Gardening talks at Arlington Central Library: March - October on Wednesdays at 7 pm. All talks near the garden (tennis court side). See the full schedule here. Next talk is Wednesday, May 30 -- Rooftop Gardening With Self-Watering Containers.
Slideshow: Check out the impressive Rock Spring UCC Plot Against Hunger in late Spring 2012
New Community Garden in 2011: Thomas Jefferson Middle School
The Thomas Jefferson Middle School Community Garden was an idea
sown by Girl Scout Cadette Troop 557 and has grown into a thriving
school garden. The TJMS Community Garden has partnered with AFAC's
"Plot Against Hunger" program to provide fresh produce to AFAC, making
it the 14th local school garden (AFAC Plot Against Hunger) to donate
harvests to AFAC. You can see more photos (and follow the TJ Garden) on their Facebook page.
Read about what St. Andrew's did in 2011 in their Plot Against Hunger Garden Blog
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is starting their 4th year of vegetable gardening for AFAC. Over the past 3 years, they have donated over 2 tons of vegetables through the Plot Against Hunger Program from their organic garden located on the church property.
Lots of photos and other information about the garden's progress this year can be found on the St. Andrew's Grows Blog.
Check out what was done to prepare and grow the Central Library Garden in 2012
A demonstration organic vegetable garden at Arlington's
Central Library has ben planted again this year. You can see what is happening at the Follow The Arlington
Central Library Garden page or the Central Library Blog which can be found here.
This project is a joint effort of AFAC, Arlington County Central Library, USDA, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, Girl Scout
Troop 1431 and Potomac Vegetable Farms.
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Volunteer Opportunities and Veggie Donations (Spring 2012)
Volunteer and Vegetable Donation Announcements
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Produce Handlers Needed
It's
farmers market season, the time of year when AFAC receives tons of
beautiful produce donated by generous farmers for our clients to enjoy.
Volunteers are needed during the ...
Posted May 6, 2011 10:34 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Vegetable Donation Locations
South Side:
Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)
2708 S. Nelson St.
(off Four Mile Run dr., near Shirlington)
(703) 845-8486
Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Thursday evenings: 7 ...
Posted Mar 24, 2011 11:04 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Plant an Extra Row Of Vegetables for AFAC
Plant an extra row of veggies in your garden for AFAC. Suggested items are those that hold up well and are requested by AFAC
clients -- onions, peppers, potatoes, beans, peas ...
Posted Mar 24, 2011 11:30 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Farmers' Market Pick-up Drivers
Each
summer, AFAC volunteers go to Arlington farmers'
markets to pick up market-end produce donations. This coming season we
need volunteer drivers to help mid-day Saturdays and Sundays ...
Posted Mar 24, 2011 11:04 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Plant and Donate Seedlings
Are you good at starting vegetables from seed? Consider planting some extra seedlings for AFAC. You can bring them to our offices and we will distribute them to our clients ...
Posted Mar 24, 2011 11:05 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Produce Storage Advisor/Trainer
Do you have experience storing produce in a way that reduces spoilage? AFAC has some experience with this and a plan for cooler storage -- but we would love an expert ...
Posted Mar 24, 2011 11:06 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Church/Community Garden "Plots Against Hunger"
These are garden plots dedicated to growing produce for AFAC. We need volunteers to help plan, plant, water, weed, etc. Two gardens currently in need of volunteers are Unitarian Universalist ...
Posted Aug 5, 2010 12:47 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Eagle Scout Community Service
Need an Eagle Scout community service project? We can help. Start a community garden or organize a group for gleaning this summer. Contact us for more details (and more ideas
Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:34 PM by Andrew Nuckols
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Plot Against Hunger Publicity
We can use help posting fliers at stores, libraries, schools, or your local coffee shop. Anywhere you can think of that might generate interest in our Plot Against Hunger program
Posted Mar 27, 2009 11:36 PM by Andrew Nuckols
Planting DatesPlanting Dates
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