Grow a Row: Helping Feed Our Community, One Garden at a Time

SCHOHARIE & OTSEGO COUNTY — The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties (CCESO) are inviting local gardeners to take part in their newest project “Grow a Row,” a community-powered initiative aimed at increasing access to fresh, locally grown food for families in need.

Grow a Row encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row—or simply grow a little more—of fruits and vegetables to donate to local food pantries in Schoharie and Otsego Counties. By sharing garden abundance, participants can play a direct role in addressing food insecurity across the two counties.

“Many gardeners grow more produce than they can use,” said Marcie Foster, Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator at CCESO. “Grow a Row offers a simple way to turn that extra harvest into something meaningful for our neighbors.”

Pantries in Otsego or Schoharie Counties interested in receiving fresh produce from growers can contact Marcie Foster to be added to an interactive map for growers (mkf48@cornell.edu; 607-547-2536 ext. 235)

Participants who sign up as Growers will join a growing network of community members committed to expanding access to fresh, nutritious food in our region. In addition to making an impact, Growers will receive seasonal gardening education and support from CCESO Master Gardener Volunteers. Resources include workshops, written materials, and direct assistance, along with guidance on connecting to local food pantries and produce drop-off locations.

To help gardeners get started, CCESO is offering several informational and educational opportunities:

Virtual Information Sessions (via Zoom):

April 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM

May 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM

In-Person Workshop: Square Foot Gardening

June 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Location: Otsego GROW Garden, 123 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY

Interested growers can also sign up in person at the following tabling events:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market

May 2, 2026 (8 am to 2 pm)

101 Main Street, Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown, NY

SUNY Cobleskill Plant Sale

May 2, 2026 (8 am to 2 pm)

CANR Building, SUNY Cobleskill 114 Rockland Ave

Cobleskill, New York 12043

Earth Festival

May 9, 2026 (10 am -3pm)

SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Pkwy, Oneonta, NY 13820

Otsego Master Gardener Plant Sale

May 16, 2026 (9 am to 2 pm)

Fenimore Farm & Country Village, 5775 NY-80, Cooperstown, NY 13326

Schoharie County Farmers’ Market

May 24, 2026 (10 am to 1 pm)

Cobleskill Fairgrounds: 113 Sunshine Drive, Cobleskill, NY 12043

There are no minimum donation requirements—participants are encouraged to give what they can, when they can.

To register for these programs up to sign up to be a grower, visit: https://cceschoharie-otsego.org/gardening/grow-a-row-helping-feed-our-community-one-garden-at-a-time