The Garden Writers Association, America's oldest and largest association of professional garden communicators, hopes to reduce the problem without government programs, tax dollars or red tape. Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is a public service campaign of the Garden Writers Association, whose goal is to help feed the hungry by establishing PAR networks in communities everywhere. The purpose of PAR is to create and sustain a grassroots program whereby garden writers use their media clout to encourage readers and listeners to donate their surplus garden produce to local food banks and soup kitchens. PAR began in 1995, in Anchorage, Alaska, when Jeff Lowenfels asked his readers to plant a row of vegetables for Bean's Café. Since then, the program has grown by leaps and bounds. In 2005, more than 1.5 million pounds of produce were donated, generating meals for over 5.5 million needy recipients. This contribution is significant considering that each pound of food makes four meals. PAR's success hinges on a “people-helping-people” approach.

The concept is simple. There are over 70 million gardeners in the U.S. alone, many of whom plant vegetables and harvest more than they can consume. If every gardener plants one extra row of vegetables and donates their surplus to local food banks and soup kitchens, a significant impact can be made on reducing hunger. Food agencies will have access to fresh produce, funds earmarked for produce can be redirected to other needed items and the hungry of America will have fresh, local food.

So consider planting a little something extra this year in your vegetable garden, or donate those surplus apples and raspberries that you just don¹t get around to harvesting yourself.

(Brought to you by Alaska Botanical Garden)

For more tips, visit the LifeBalance Gardening / Gardens category

To learn more about additional opportunities in your community, visit the LifeBalance Community Corner.

To keep track of what you eat and more, visit the LifeBalance Food Tracker & Journal.

For complete a listing of related LifeBalance providers, please visit the LifeBalance Nutrition / Supplements and Cooking pages.

1 tsp red-wine or raspberry vinegar
1/4 tsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 c quartered cherry tomatoes
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 c crumbled feta
1/4 c shredded fresh basil leaves

Whisk vinegar, sugar, oil, salt & pepper to taste. Add tomatoes, cucumber, feta, basil, and toss well.  Try growing some of these wonderful ingredients in your own garden this year!

(Brought to you by Spud)

Financial collapse, layoffs and work shortages have rippled across national borders, dominating our media and our thoughts. Employees and managers alike are worried about the health of their company and wonder about the likelihood of retaining their positions. In an atmosphere ripe with rumor, uncertainty and fear, there is no better time for one-on-one meetings between managers and their employees.

Monthly one-on-one meetings between employees and managers serve to develop not only the employee, their manager and their relationship, but the organization as well. Employees have the opportunity to share their frustrations, challenges and triumphs. Managers have a chance to hear their employee's concerns and provide feedback and development opportunities. Ironically, current conditions may create increased opportunities for employees. With shrinking staff and resources, many employees are being asked to stretch and grow in directions that wouldn't previously been possible. Such growth inherently demands more support from the organization.

In today's climate of tumult and anxiety, the rumor mill is flying. One-on-one meetings also serve as an opportunity for both parties to air and respond to deeper concerns about the health of the industry or company and communicate transparently. Managers owe it to their employees to really listen to their anxieties and answer questions with the truth, as much as possible. There is a great deal we don't know right now about what the future holds, and it is advisable to honestly communicate both what steps management is taking to stay on top of economic health as well as the uncertainty we are all feeling. Open and honest communication, even if the news is bad, is more important now than in any business climate.

When business is booming, it will be just as important to maintain these meetings, tempting as it may be to lay them in favor of the optimistic assumption that things are going smoothly and “no news is good news!” When playing soccer we not only want the rules, we want to know the big picture and most importantly, where the goal line is. Good managers continually remind their employees of overarching individual and organizational goals, providing achievable objectives to strive toward. Managers owe their employees frequent and continual evaluation of performance, helping them develop.

(Brought to you by Xenium)

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Last month's trivia question, which asked members to identify a photograph of a LifeBalance Vendor was correctly answered by Eileen Grimes. The correct answer was Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University. Congratulations!

This month's question is in the form of a photograph from a LifeBalance Vendor in Oregon. Who is this LifeBalance Provider?

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The correct answer to this month's question will be revealed in the next edition of eAction!