New Cooperative Garden/CSA Opens in Mt. Kisco

InterGenerate has been working feverishly to create a better world by focusing on providing opportunities to grow organic produce and to make it available to everyone. Founded in 2009, InterGenerate has successfully operated community gardens in Chappaqua, Katonah, Millwood, and Mount Kisco, where produce is grown by the hands of members and volunteers. This model of gardening allows for participating families to have access to fresh and healthy food, while also providing organic produce for those in need. Projects like these simultaneously deepen ties within the community and tackle concerns of food security.

The model utilized in most InterGenerate gardens is that each member is assigned a plot of their own and additionally, members share tasks of planting and caring for a Giving Garden which is then harvested and donated to the community. This year, InterGenerate will unveil a new model of community gardening at the Ann Manzi Center in Mt. Kisco. Families will farm an entire parcel co-operatively. They will decide what to grow and will share the tasks of caring for the entire space. Each family will take what they need and the rest will be donated. Mey Marple, co-director of this InterGenerate project adds, “This is a perfect model for beginning gardeners and busy people as we will all share the experience of gardening without any one person feeling overburdened.”

Additionally, in an attempt to address food insecurity in our neighboring communities, InterGenerate is in the process of assessing the needs of those who may be falling through the cracks of our system. While Westchester may be one of the most affluent counties in New York State, the food insecurity rate in this county is higher than the national average. According to Feeding Westchester, 1 in 5 people will experience food insecurity this year locally. Food insecurity is defined as a situation in which there are a set of circumstances preventing access to food, generally leaving families hungry, oftentimes missing meals entirely. Frequently the only inexpensive meals these individuals can afford are high in calories and low in nutrients. Examples of those affected by this range from families with working parents, living below the poverty level, who are forced to make choices between paying rent and electric bills over buying food, to older adults who may not have access to transportation or are living on fixed incomes. The result is the same - food insecurity.

This summer, InterGenerate hopes to address some of these concerns by introducing a CSA opportunity which will dovetail with their community garden projects. By utilizing harvests from all of their Giving Gardens, the communal garden at ARC, as well as produce that is donated, and at times purchased, from several surrounding farms, InterGenerate will fill bags with organic produce to be distributed at a very low cost to those in need. Any funds from this program will be paid to farmers to help fill the gaps with items not grown by InterGenerate such as corn, fruit and eggs.

With each new project there is a need for more volunteers. Anyone interested in helping to build community, feed neighbors in need and make this world a better place is encouraged to contact InterGenerate. Presently, InterGenerate is looking for volunteers to assist with harvesting, picking up produce from local farms, filling CSA bags and delivering produce to families once a week during the months of June through September. The help of many will decrease the burden for all.

If you are interested in becoming a member of InterGenerate’s newest garden in Mt. Kisco, registrations are now being processed through their website at: https://www.intergenerate.net/mount-kisco.html In addition to the cooperative space, there will be a limited number of individual plots available for members on a first come - first serve basis. They will be holding their first meeting at 6pm on April 11 at Mimi's Coffeehouse in Mt. Kisco.

Also, if you know of a family in need of food, or wish to sponsor a family's low-cost CSA for the summer, please reach out to InterGenerate at:
https://www.intergenerate.net/csa-program.html

InterGenerate is a 501c3 and all donations are tax-deductible. All donations are greatly appreciated.

-Submitted by AnnaKathryn Rutherford