Our vision is for all residents of Montgomery County to have greater access to fresh, nutritious produce through our donations, sharing our locally grown food and food gardening knowledge with those in need without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or culture. All are welcome to join us in volunteering to support our community.
We value becoming a stronger community through gardening and volunteerism and believe we can empower residents to promote sustainability through food gardening education. We are committed to demonstrate sound environmental stewardship by utilizing principles of organic gardening and by reducing the waste of surplus food by collecting and redistributing it. We strive to minimize our carbon footprint through recycling and repurposing of materials used in our gardens and by minimizing the distance between harvest and distribution sites.
HarvestShare began as a grassroots initiative in the spring of 2020 as a response to the Covid pandemic. As the lines for food at local pantries grew longer and longer as a result of the shutdown, a group of concerned gardeners wondered what we could do to help. Our solution? Ask people to grow and donate surplus produce to our neighborhoods in need. Five years and 48 tons later, we are still doing just that and more.
It’s 2025, why are we still committed to this cause? One in nine people in our area is still struggling to secure food, 40% of those households with children. With rising food and housing costs, wages that can’t keep up, layoffs and massive cuts in federal programs, our mission is more important than ever.
In addition to asking residential and community food gardeners to grow a little more in their gardens, our volunteer-run organization supports several food production gardens including our flagship ‘Giving Garden’ where all produce is given to those in need. We also host free virtual and in-person gardening education talks and events. These activities serve to educate growers on seasonal topics as well as provide residents and community groups with no cost seeds and seedlings at the beginning of the summer growing season.
Gardeners with extra produce can drop off fresh fruits and vegetables at local food pantries and drop-off sites listed on our website, ensuring the shortest time from harvest to redistribution.
Individuals, neighborhoods, community gardens, places of worship, clubs, and organizations can start their own drop-off sites and schedules—HarvestShare will connect them with local partners for distribution. (Organizations are encouraged to start their own Grow-to-Donate gardens to further support the cause.)
You can also get involved by:
Volunteering in a food production garden
Picking up and delivering produce from participating farmers’ markets
Teaching or assisting with community outreach events
Monetary donations help sustain our programs, fund outreach, and provide low-income residents with the knowledge and materials to grow their own food. All donations are tax-deductible.
Gardeners with extra produce can drop food off at a number of food pantries and drop-off sites listed on our website. Our goal is to minimize the time between harvest, drop off and redistribution, keeping the fruits and vegetables amazingly fresh.
Neighborhoods, community gardens, places of worship, clubs and organizations are encouraged to set up their own drop-off sites and schedules and HarvestShare will link them with a local organization for distribution to those in need. Individual gardeners can locate nearby food pantries through the Fresh Food Connect app
Monetary donations keep our program running and support community outreach programs that teach low-income residents how to grow some of their own food, sharing the growing and educational materials needed to do so. All donations are tax deductible.
We also have opportunities to work in a food production garden, pickup and deliver produce from a participating farmers’ market or get involved in teaching or help with community outreach events. Click HERE to learn more.
