Farmer Looking To Donate Food Once It’s Grown
April 21, 2020 at 11:05 p.m.
By Jackie [email protected]
Neil Schafer, owner of Bowser/Schafer Natural Gardens, 10555 N. Ogden Road, Laketon, said the best resource to get the food out would be to donate the food to area food banks. He is looking to donate the food to residents of Kosciusko and Wabash counties as Schafer is currently a Pierceton resident and the farm is in Wabash County.
However, Schafer said he is also thinking of setting something up at the farm so people can come get food that way. He said he would ask people to take what they need, but leave enough for other people.
He is looking to donate food in the early spring. If he cannot do this, he may donate from the fall harvest.
He stated Walmart donated about $6,000 in seeds last year and the farm will be using some of their own stock.
Some of the food he is looking to donate incudes tomatoes, bell peppers, arugula, leeks, cantaloupe, melons, squash and different kinds of herbs. Everything is organic. Schafer stated he started planting tomato trees Sunday.
Schafer said his mother, Linda Schafer, and uncle, Roy Bowser, are a part of the farm and it wouldn’t be possible without their financing.
Schafer said this is not the first time the farm has donated to others, as they have donated to area schools and hurricane victims in Beaumont, Texas.
“It’s the right thing to do and it would be senseless and stupid not to do it,” Schafer said.
Schafer said he will need help, though, noting he would appreciate help during harvesting and getting the food to the food banks. He said if there are people food banks trust, he could use help in looking after the farm when he’s gone for a few days while he’s truck driving.
When things get close to harvest, Schafer stated he plans on making calls to interested food banks at least a day ahead to make sure the food is all donated equally across the areas.
If any food banks are interested in contacting Schafer about food donations, they can e-mail him at [email protected].
Neil Schafer, owner of Bowser/Schafer Natural Gardens, 10555 N. Ogden Road, Laketon, said the best resource to get the food out would be to donate the food to area food banks. He is looking to donate the food to residents of Kosciusko and Wabash counties as Schafer is currently a Pierceton resident and the farm is in Wabash County.
However, Schafer said he is also thinking of setting something up at the farm so people can come get food that way. He said he would ask people to take what they need, but leave enough for other people.
He is looking to donate food in the early spring. If he cannot do this, he may donate from the fall harvest.
He stated Walmart donated about $6,000 in seeds last year and the farm will be using some of their own stock.
Some of the food he is looking to donate incudes tomatoes, bell peppers, arugula, leeks, cantaloupe, melons, squash and different kinds of herbs. Everything is organic. Schafer stated he started planting tomato trees Sunday.
Schafer said his mother, Linda Schafer, and uncle, Roy Bowser, are a part of the farm and it wouldn’t be possible without their financing.
Schafer said this is not the first time the farm has donated to others, as they have donated to area schools and hurricane victims in Beaumont, Texas.
“It’s the right thing to do and it would be senseless and stupid not to do it,” Schafer said.
Schafer said he will need help, though, noting he would appreciate help during harvesting and getting the food to the food banks. He said if there are people food banks trust, he could use help in looking after the farm when he’s gone for a few days while he’s truck driving.
When things get close to harvest, Schafer stated he plans on making calls to interested food banks at least a day ahead to make sure the food is all donated equally across the areas.
If any food banks are interested in contacting Schafer about food donations, they can e-mail him at [email protected].
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