Garden Abundance
by Marc Hopkins

I must confess I love to garden. There is little more satisfying to me than a meal prepared from food I grew myself. It never ceases to amaze me how a little work, some water, and sunshine can bring an abundance of food. Once the apple and apricot trees start producing I am knee deep in fruit as well. In my small backyard, with little investment beyond my time and a little elbow grease, I grow more food in my garden each year than I can eat or give to neighbors and friends.
Which leads me to my problem, what do I do with all that extra food? In the past it went to waste, some of it plowed under the earth but most of it into the garbage. Then I learned there are several places eager to receive this food, and some will even come out and gather it from the trees and garden if I can’t. I did not think places wanted fresh produce, I had assumed all food donations had to be nonperishable items, such as canned goods. But in fact there are several organizations eager to receive and distribute this food.
Even better, did you know donating your produce counts as recycling? In some cases 40% or more waste is edible food scraps. By donating apples, plums, corn, and other excess produce you are feeding a person in need, reducing waste, and solving your own problem of what to do after your co-workers, neighbors, family, and friends have already taken all they can.
Here a few places to contact that usually accept produce, always call first to verify donation times and locations. If you know of any other organizations please let us know at outabout@garlic.com so we can add them to future lists.

Gilroy & Morgan Hill
Second Harvest Food Bank
Grocery items and produce
Web Site: www.2ndharvest.net
750 Curtner Ave. San Jose • Phone: 408 266-8866
spetersen@shfoodbank.com

Hollister
Community Pantry
Grocery items and produce
1133 San Felipe Dr. Hollister • Phone: 831 637-0340
Maryanne.pantry@sbcglobal.net

Salinas
Food Bank For Monterey Cty
Grocery items and produce
815 West Market St.t, Suite #5, Salinas • Phone: 800 870-FOOD (3663)
lsunny@food4hungry.org

Watsonville
Second Harvest Food Bank
Grocery items and produce
PO Box 990, Watsonville • Phone: 831 662-0487

Hermanas Recovery Home
Grocery items, produce and prepared food.
640 Rodriguez St,, Watsonville • Phone: 831 722-2471

Si Se Puede
Grocery items, produce and prepared food.
161 Niles Lane, Watsonville • Phone: 831 761-5422

Loaves and Fishes
Grocery items, produce and prepared food.
150 2nd St., Watsonville • Phone: 831 722-4144

Salvation Army Loma Prieta Transitional Housing Complex
Grocery items, produce and prepared food.
232 Union, Watsonville • Phone: 831 763-0131

Santa Cruz County
St Francis
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
205 Mora St., Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 459-6712

Salvation Army
Grocery items and produce
721 Laurel St., Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 426-8365

River Street Shelter
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
733 River St,, Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 459-6645

New Life Center
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
707 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 427-1007

Homeless Garden
Grocery items, produce and prepared food. No refrigerator
127 Washington St., Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 426-3609

Homeless Community Resource Center and Page Smith Community House
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
115 Coral St., Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 458-6020

Battered Women's Task Force/Walnut Ave. Women's Center
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
303 Walnut, Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 426-3062

Food Not Bombs
Produce, grocery items. No meat.
Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 425-3345

Grey Bears
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
2710 Chanticleer, Santa Cruz • Phone: 831 479-1055

Above the Line
Grocery items, produce. Call first if food is perishable
9053 Soquel Dr. #203, Aptos • Phone: 831 685-3964

Calvary Chapel
Grocery items, produce and prepared food
8065 Valencia, Aptos • Phone: 831 688-5613