Each spring, I start tucking seeds into the soil with purpose. Like many gardeners, I grow food for my family. But in recent years, it’s become more than that.

Our local NLHG Chapter began a Chapter Outreach Project to share the extra from our gardens with others in the community. It started small. Just planting a few extra and donating the surplus. Now, it’s something many of us look forward to.

We gather what we grow and bring it to food banks and senior centers. Some ladies drop off extra tomatoes or zucchini. Others bring herbs or berries. Together, we’re helping make sure fresh, homegrown food reaches people who may not have the time, space, or ability to grow their own.

As I get ready to plant this season, I keep that in mind. With every seed I press into the ground, I think about who it might feed. It’s a small act with a big impact.

This is what self-reliance in community looks like.

Yes, we grow for ourselves. But we also grow for others. Gardening becomes something more when it reaches beyond our own tables.