exciting growth, a request & spotlight on a very special starter!  

the numbers—up, up & away!

What a season! And if we may say so, what huge growth in both reach and impact since our pilot program last Summer/Fall 2020! But rather than wax poetic, let’s allow the numbers in the table to speak for themselves.

We’re also thrilled to share that over 90% of pantry clients eagerly took starts home, showing an undeniable want by people to grow their own food as a supplement to receiving food assistance, and expressing their appreciation for the program. Plus, in line with our intent to expand geographically, we welcomed Starters from beyond Petaluma, and paralleled that with additional pantry distributions at two sites in Santa Rosa.

At the end of a hot, windy couple of hours distributing starts, a Redwood Empire Food Bank volunteer specifically noted how smiles instantly broke out on clients’ faces when they took plants in their hands.

And you can’t quantify that, folks—it’s immeasurable. ; )

you say tomato, she says tomahto—300 times!  

Paula Glogovac is a powerhouse. In addition to being a Starter, she offered to single-handedly grow from seed a whopping 300 tomato plants for getstarted. No small beans, given that they needed to be started, tended and maintained before the program’s cycle officially began. Plus, c’mon, 300 starts?!

We think it takes a pretty special person to make a commitment like this—so let’s get to know Paula a bit, shall we?