Bal Tashchit and Beyond: Pe'ah Forward

Charlotte Jewish News, June/July 2022

By Liz Wahls

Food insecurity is a growing problem in our community, accelerated by the COVID pandemic and increasing inflation. Many people struggle to afford fresh fruit and vegetables because these items tend to be more expensive than processed foods. Fresh produce has a short shelf life, which means that it spoils and therefore can’t be bought in bulk and stored in the same way processed or preserved foods can. The cost of procuring and storing fresh produce can deter retailers, leading to accessibility issues for customers. A food desert is an area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. According to Sustain Charlotte, almost 15% of Mecklenburg’s population lives in food deserts. This is a greater percentage than both the national average (11%) and the North Carolina average (13%).

With heightened awareness of the issues of food insecurity and the connection of environmental justice and social justice, Shalom Green has, since its inception in 2015, partnered with Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte (JFS) to donate fresh produce from the Shalom Park Community Garden to its food pantry. Roberta Rodgers, community liaison coordinator for JFS, says, “Our clients are always thrilled to receive fresh produce! We are so happy to be able to offer produce in addition to the nonperishables that we routinely distribute. We are grateful for Shalom Green and its garden volunteers.”

The Shalom Park Community Garden was built and is managed by Shalom Green, the volunteer-led Shalom Park Environmental Initiative. In the garden, volunteers grow healthy vegetables, fruits, and herbs for donation and for environmental programs such as Green Sprouts and the Charlotte Jewish Day School’s Garden Club meet. Anyone is welcome to visit the garden and enjoy the picnic tables, but please follow the posted garden rules at the entrance including:

- Please don’t pick the produce, as it is intended for donation to the community.

- Group use of the garden space must be scheduled through The Foundation of Shalom Park.

- Remember to be kind to nature and clean up after your use.

There are several ways to get involved and help Shalom Green combat food insecurity in our community. The Torah states that when we harvest, we should leave the “corners of the fields” (pe’ah) for the poor. To help community members fulfill this mitzvah, Shalom Green invites home gardeners to share their abundant harvests through our new initiative, Project Pe’ah Forward.

Every two weeks, gardeners can bring excess produce from their home gardens to Shalom Park, and Shalom Green volunteers will bag and label it for donation to the JFS food pantry along with the vegetables, herbs, and fruit grown in the Shalom Park Community Garden. Not only will this initiative increase much-needed donations of fresh produce to JFS, but also Project Pe’ah Forward participants will receive access to special events and exclusive educational opportunities, including Q&A sessions with our resident horticultural expert, Shalom Green part-time garden coordinator, Bobbie Mabe. To express interest in donating your produce through Project Pe’ah Forward, email info@shalomgreenCLT.org.

The Shalom Park Community Garden is powered by volunteers — novice and experienced gardeners, families and retirees, teens looking for volunteer hours, and others. Come join us for our monthly garden workdays, usually the third Sunday of the month, to plant, weed, water, mulch, harvest, learn about gardening, and meet new people. Our next work days are June 26 and July 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. Register and sign up for our email list on the Shalom Green website, https://shalomgreenclt. org/.

Jewish tradition teaches the importance of caring for the environment, for we must act as partners in preserving creation. If you are interested in donating your time or dollars to Shalom Green, please visit our website at https://shalomgreenclt.org/ and email us at info@shalomgreen- CLT.org. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Visit our YouTube channel.

Feature Photo: Volunteers starting seeds in the Shalom Park Community Garden