Community Effort to Address Food Insecurity in Mariposa
October 31, 2023 - By Michele Nowak-Sharkey, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County - 4,200+ pounds of produce were distributed during the 
spring/summer growing season to organizations that address food insecurity. This was done through the Plant A Row program run by the UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County.
The Plant A Row program (PAR) functions as a liaison between people who grow produce such as local farmers and home gardeners with extra veggies in their garden and distributes that produce to organizations such as Manna House, Mariposa Senior Services, The Alliance for Community Transformations, and Heritage House. In 2023, Plant A Row increased the number of organizations receiving produce. PAR welcomed MiWu-Mati Healing Center, Idle Wheels Senior Mobile Home Park, Mount Bullion Conservation Camp, Mariposa Family Resource Center, Set Free Church, and Mountain Crisis Services.
PAR was grateful to collect produce once again from the Farmer’s Market vendors; Raw Roots Farm in Catheys Valley, Shasky Farms of Le Grand, Serrano Farms, also in Le Grand, and the House of Greens in Fresno. This year the Farm at Worman Mill in Mariposa joined in the giving.
In addition, Happy Goat Farm of Mariposa and Rancho de Rodney in Fresno helped increase the yearly pounds distributed from 900 lbs. in 2022 to 4,200 lbs. in 2023. Food stuffs were also collected from local home gardeners who brought their extra produce to the Master Gardeners Farmer’s Market table each week.
The UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County want to thank all those that contributed to the success of this year’s program and encourage gardeners in the area, as they plan their plots for next year, that they consider planting an extra row or two for the hungry. In addition, if you have orchards that have excess produce at the close of the season that you would like to contribute, please contact the Master Gardeners program office (209)-966-7078 to talk about available options.
It truly is a community effort to address food insecurity!
For assistance, contact our Helpline at (209) 966-7078 or at mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu. We are currently unable to take samples or meet with you in person but welcome pictures.
The U.C. Master Gardener Helpline is staffed; Tuesdays from 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. and Thursdays from 2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Clients may bring samples to the Agricultural Extension Office located at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, but the Master Gardener office is not open to the public. We will not be doing home visits this year due to UCANR restrictions.
Helpline Serving Mariposa County, including Greeley Hill, Coulterville, and Don Pedro
Please contact the helpline, or leave a message by phone at: (209) 966-7078
By email (send photos and questions for researched answers) to: mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu
For further gardening information and event announcements, please visit: UCMG website: https://cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/mariposamastergardeners
Master Gardener Office Location:
UC Cooperative Extension Office,
5009 Fairgrounds Road
Mariposa, CA 95338
Phone: (209) 966-2417
Email: mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu
Website: http://cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener
Visit the YouTube channel at UCCE Mariposa.
Listen to us on the radio at KRYZ 98.5 Mariposa on Wednesdays at 2:00 P.M. and Saturdays at 5:00 P.M.
Related: UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County to Oversee the Plant-a-Row Program Beginning on July 12, 2021
Over the Garden Fence - Plant A Row for the Hungry Program has Another Successful Year!
