Harvest for Hunger Field Work
Click on the 'i' in the left-hand corner for short descriptions. If you are having trouble viewing the images, click here to see the slideshow on our flickr page. Photos by Carol Ann Elisen.
Despite one of the most challenging planting seasons in recent memory in
Ontario, the Harvest for Hunger project is up and growing.
As
of June 20th, the soybeans are just beyond the third trifoliate leaf
stage, and more than six inches tall. Through the efforts of the
committee, several agri-business and local farmers, the field was
cultivated and planted between frequent rains this spring.
Harvest
for Hunger is the brainchild of five farmers from the Listowel, Ontario
area who want to help end global hunger, and set a world record while
they’re at it. The group--Richard Van Donkersgoed, Peter Rastorfer, Mike Koetsier, John Tollenaar and Randy Drenth-- has planted 160 acres of soybeans. The
proceeds will be donated to the Foodgrains Bank. They also hope to
harvest the field in less than five minutes, with the help of as many
combines as they can gather.
The project has garnered excellent
community support: local agri-businesses and have already donated
between $15,000 and $20,000 worth of crop inputs; over 50 combines are
signed-up to harvest the beans; and congregations, churches, schools,
and individuals have already donated $8,000 by “buying” bushels of the
crop for $20 per bushel.
Click here to learn more about Harvest for Hunger and how you can get involved.