Par22

Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is part of a national movement that began in 1995 by the Garden Writers’ Association.  It is a grass roots program for home and community gardeners to help the hungry in their own communities. It is rooted in the tradition of sharing bountiful garden harvests to those in need.

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC) joined the national movement with its first PAR garden in 1999. Originally located on County Services Road, the garden has relocated several times; first to Smith-Gilbert Garden then to the Fountain Gate Wellness Center and most recently to the MacMillan Farm in Marietta.  It receives funding and volunteer support from MGVOCC and is a part of the Greater Atlanta Food Well Alliance, a program of the Atlanta Food Bank.

Since 1999, MGVOCC Plant a Row has planted and harvested more than 40,000 pounds of produce for those in need in Cobb County. In 2019, we celebrated twenty years of partnership with The Center for Family Resources who distributes our harvest to their Cobb County clients.  We have recently added two local food banks and shelters to our group of partners.  These include Seven Bridges and Turner Chapel Food Bank.

PAR accepts volunteer help from active Master Gardeners.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Renae Lemon at Cobb County Extension Service, [email protected]