From Heirloom Seed Bank to Food Pantry

In the spring of 2020, Larchmont resident Diane Neff grew heirloom tomato seeds at home that were donated to the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Healthy Yards Project a year earlier by the non-profit Seed Savers Exchange.  The Seed Savers Exchange’s mission, “aims to conserve and promote America’s culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants.” 

Twenty-five seedlings fostered from Diane’s seeds were shared with Love Your Food team member and Town resident Beth Radow who farms vegetables at grow! Lincoln Park Community Garden  in New Rochelle.

Thanks to sun, water and cooperative birds, bunnies and squirrels — along with healthy soil enriched by compost from Larchmont/Mamaroneck’s compost give-back day — the seedlings bore a prolific weekly bounty of mixed size multicolor heirloom tomatoes which Beth donated to the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Food pantry.