The good Cornellians can do: Karen Baase ’91, MPS ’00

About 15 years ago, Karen Baase '91, MPS '00 first read about ‘Grow-a-Row’ in Reader’s Digest. This New Jersey non-profit grew fresh produce and contributed their harvest to a local food pantry. Karen and fellow members of her church decided to give this model a try in their hometown of Hamilton, NY.

The group founded their own version of ‘Grow-a-Row’ on a donated garden plot, planted seeds donated by Tractor Supply, and shared the harvest with the Hamilton Food Cupboard. Over the next four years, many volunteers planted, weeded, tilled, and harvested produce to give to the food pantry.

When the group lost their garden space in Hamilton, Karen continued the effort in her home garden. And, after Karen retired to Brockport in western NY, she persevered—founding a new garden and donating the harvest to Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf once a week for the next six years. Today, she still maintains two cold frame garden plots next to her home.

“I'm forever grateful for helping to spread fresh produce to needy persons at local food cupboards,” Karen says.

Cornellians around the globe are sharing how they do good in communities big and small. Share your own story.