Agency Details:

Garden Harvest, Inc.

Non-profit organic farm with mission to alleviate hunger by producing and donating eggs, milk, and fresh organic vegetables & fruit to the hungry via emergency food agencies. In addition, Garden Harvest serves as an educational center where people can gain proficiency in highly marketable construction skills such as carpentry, welding, masonry,& heavy equipment operation, and learn and practice methods of organic farming and sustainable agriculture to improve personal and community food security around the world. We also teach nutrition and raise the consciousness of the general public as to the causes of hunger and homelessness.

Description:
Garden Harvest, Inc. is located in North Baltimore County, between Reisterstown and Hunt Valley, MD., just a 30 minute drive from downtown Baltimore. It produces hundreds of thousands of pounds of organic fruits & vegetables on 100 acres of land, and is in the process of starting up a milk, egg, and cheese production/donation program, initiated by a grant of $255,000 from the USDA. This will be the first ever program of its kind to produce these high quality protein foods soley to be given to our nation's most needy citizens. The grant period is for three years, at the end of which we will be producing and distributing 5000 gallons of milk, 10,000 dozen eggs, and several hundred pounds of cheese. The cheese will also be sold to high-end gourmet markets to generate revenue to support the milk & egg donation program.

History:
Garden Harvest was incorporated January 7, 1993, and obtained its 501-C-3 status the following September. Beginning with just a few volunteers in 1994 producing and donating 35,000 lbs. of organic fruit and vegetables, by 1996 Garden Harvest's production/donations had increased to over 200,000 lbs. with over 5000 volunteers helping out. Both the Executive Director and Assistant Director have volunteered full time since 1994. Currently, its production & donations average 300,000 lbs. a year. In October of 2004, Garden Harvest was awarded a three year grant of $255,000 by the USDA to help start up a milk, egg, and cheese distribution program. This requires a lot of fence installation, sheds for the animals, and the construction and equipment for a certified Grade A dairy, milk bottling plant, cheese factory, and egg production facility.

Contact person: Edie Dasher, Assistant Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (866) 362-3644

Address:

14045 Mantua Mill Road Reisterstown, MD 21136 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.gardenharvest.org

Last updated on August 25, 2009