Produce harvested at demonstration garden given to food bank

MARYSVILLE — Every Monday morning from spring to fall, groups of volunteers descend on the demonstration garden in Jennings Memorial Park and harvest the produce.

On Monday, the volunteers, all from the Snohomish County Master Gardeners, loaded 225 pounds of produce into a truck.

All the produce from the garden is donated to the Marysville Community Food Bank.

Michele Duncan, one of the Master Gardeners who manages the one-acre garden, said they were on track to donate more than 3,000 pounds of produce this year.

Monday’s haul included potatoes, peppers, kale, tomatoes, leeks and squash, including a football-size winter squash that will wind up in one lucky person’s grocery bag.

The Master Gardeners program of Washington State University offers extensive training and workshop instruction every winter quarter.

The Master Gardeners are certified to work and educate the public about gardening and environmental stewardship. The program has three demonstration gardens in the county — two others are in McCollum Park and Legion Memorial Park in Everett, although the latter is in a transitional state while the Department of Ecology is cleaning up toxic chemicals from the park’s soil.

“A lot of us are involved in community gardens as well, just as a source of information about how to grow food,” Duncan said.

Marysville Community Food Bank director Dell Deierling said the food from the demonstration garden only amounts to about 10 percent of the donated produce they distribute during the year.

But the quality of the demonstration garden produce sets its above the rest.

“It means we get the freshest food possible available to our clients,” Deierling said.

“You know that it’s going to be organic, you don’t have to worry about chemicals,” he added. So far this year, the food bank has distributed 27,815 pounds of produce, Deierling said. Much of the remainder comes from community gardens, such as through its “Giving Gardens” program that encourages people to plant produce specifically for the food bank.

“We are benefiting not just from them now but from many communities here in Marysville who grow for the food bank,” Deierling said.

There are approximately 325 Master Gardeners in the county, Duncan said. More than 200 of them typically sign up for work parties in the Jennings Park garden over the summer.

“It’s so rewarding to be able to do that for the food bank,” Duncan said. “I think that’s why the Master Gardeners like to volunteer, because they like helping people.”

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.