gardens – Madison Catholic Herald

Third and last in a series on the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens.

MADISON — The Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens (MAFPG) has a pressing need for two garden leaders, and replacing them poses a major challenge for the nonprofit organization in growing fresh produce for the poor.

Tom Parslow and Phil Cox are seeking new recruits to run the gardens they manage. Both worked as volunteers alongside Emmett Schulte, who founded the food pantry gardens with Ken Witte in 2000. In time, Schulte asked them to become garden leaders.

On April 19, 2012

Tom Nelson

Shaking the hand that feeds you

The warmer than usual early spring weather has unleashed a flurry of activity and interest in gardening projects (urban and rural), farmers’ markets, and local farm produce available from our area farmers.

The Rural Life Office of Catholic Charities receives calls from those seeking local, fresh produce grower information so, in this section of the Catholic Herald, we will provide some basics for understanding different models of Wisconsin farming production and the communities they serve.

Conventional farming

Wisconsin has a long and esteemed position in providing for our nation’s food system. Our dairy herds are of all sizes and produce dairy products for direct sale through grocery businesses as well as providing the major ingredients for world renowned, artisan-crafted cheeses throughout our state.