Maximum Yield USA 2012 March | Page 30

MAX FACTS hydroponic news, tips and trivia Rotary First Harvest of Oregon After discovering that Oregon was the most food-insecure state in the nation, Rotarians in Klamath County, Oregon established Rotary First Harvest of Oregon, a cooperative initiative to stock the local food bank that has attracted help and contributions from the public and private business sectors, the community-at-large and even work crews from the Klamath County jail. So far the Rotarians and their allies have purchased a refrigerated container to store donated produce, established a trucking network to bring produce from remote locations and coordinated with the Oregon State University Extension Office to spray their apple and plum orchard for a viable harvest and to quadruple the size of their demonstration garden to benefit the food bank. (Source: firstharvest.org) Boulder County Jail Project Continues Since 1995, master gardeners from Colorado State University have been mentoring inmates from the Boulder County Jail on a one-acre food production garden that provides fresh vegetables and fruit for the jail kitchen as well as for the community food share program. Drip systems, composting and water-wise techniques ensure that this big garden has the lowest possible impact on the environment. The program aims to teach inmates life skills by letting them grow their own food and build self-esteem through their efforts. (Source: bcmg.colostate.edu) 28 Maximum Yield USA | March 2012