Harvest from Kane County Government Garden Yields First Food Donation

A garden developed by Kane County staff volunteers this growing season has produced its first harvest and its first donation. After planning, planting, weeding and watering the variety of crops in the garden, two pounds of cilantro has been collected and delivered to the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantr​y (www.bataviafoodpantry.org).

“We are so grateful to Kane County for sharing their bounty. There’s nothing better than straight from the garden,” said Eileen Pasero, Executive Director of the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet. “Our client families are so appreciative of fresh herbs like cilantro; it was gone in a snap.”

“We have a dedicated group of staff volunteers who have helped realize the goal of delivering fresh produce to local food pantries,” said Kurt Lebo Kane County’s Spatial Solutions Officer and co-creator of the garden. “The next harvest will be basil and in a few more weeks we should have a yield of tomatoes.”

The 24-by-24-foot plot, located on the Kane County Campus in Geneva, is also growing tomatillos, bell peppers, banana peppers, thai peppers, squash and pumpkin.

Lebo says he hopes to expand the garden next year.