Sprout of Hope: growing gardens to feed others
This is the story of a couple of guys who like food, gardening and sharing the vegetables they raise.
Zachary Routson, Travis Markel and Ryan Beard are friends who graduated from York Suburban High School in 2000. They had common interests in their continuing friendship: working in the food industry and the love of food. They would be joined by New Jersey transplant Robert Olszewski.
Sprout of Hope is the 501(c)(3) the men created to provide healthy, locally grown produce to those in need in York. Nick Bair is the fifth member of Sprout of Hope board.
“We all had our own gardens at our houses,” Zach says. “We saw a need in the community for fresh vegetables, so we reached out.” Last year was the first time they grew produce in those gardens and shared the bounty with others. Some of the food was shared with Covenant House, a youth shelter on the east side of York City. They even created fresh salsa and tomato sauce.
This year they are expanding and have moved the operation to the Horn Farm, just off Route 30 East at the Hallam Exit.
The men have started 2,000 vegetable seedlings in the Horn Farm greenhouse that will be transplanted to garden plots. Peas, cauliflower, onions, broccoli, leaf lettuce, and cabbage are taking root in the greenhouse.
Another, related project, will be to develop garden boxes at the enclosed courtyard of the Valley View Elementary School in the York Suburban School District. A joint project with the York Suburban Education Foundation, the courtyard is approximately 30 yards by 15 yards.
Dr. Todd Monos, principal of Valley View, said "it is a wonderful use” of the courtyard and “a practical use of it for our students.”
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The food raised will be distributed for weekend “Backpack Buddies” -- a partnering program of YSEF, the York County Food Bank and Luther Memorial Lutheran Church -- in which students in need take food home collected at the nearby church for Saturday and Sunday consumption. Monos said 42 of the 330 students at the kindergarten through second grade students at the school qualify for the backpack program.
The Sprout of Hope fellows are also available to help home gardeners develop “Giving Gardens” and plant vegetables, with the understanding the homeowner will donate a portion of the food raised to a Sprout of Hope-designated charity.
Last year’s garden were self-financed by the organizers. This year they hope to raise funds to pay for the seedlings and equipment needed, as well as pay for leasing the greenhouse space and plots. They have established www.gofundme.com/sprout-of-hope to help with the fundraising effort.
The ultimate goal is to “teach people how to raise and eat their own food,” while sharing with others, Zach says.
To reach Sprout of Hope, use the email address: asproutofhope@gmail.com.
Gordon Freireich is a former editor of the York Sunday News. Email: gordonaf2805@gmail.com.