Tomato Donation to Meals on Wheels Garden
Cambridge North Rotary Contributes Tomatoes to Meals on Wheels Garden : Follow Up
During June 2023, the Rotary Club of Cambridge North (CNR) member Dean Fitzgerald delivered more than 50 organic tomato plants to Kitchener’s Meals On Wheels (MOW) garden. The organic tomato plants included numerous small fruit varieties described as ‘indeterminate’ that produce for an extended period of the growing season, usually from July until September, ending with the first hard frost. In contrast, a few varieties described as ‘determinate’ were also provided, to produce one crop of larger tomatoes. The indeterminate varieties include shapes and sizes described as current, oblong, pear, cherry, and grape whereas determinate varieties included plum, globe, roma, and beef steak. Colours of ripe tomato included green, red, yellow, orange, and purple.
Donations of tomato plants have been completed by CNR each year since 2019, including all through the Covid-19 Pandemic. Harvest from the MOW garden is used by Community Support Connections (CSC; communitysupportconnections.org) for meal preparation and delivery to residents in need all across Waterloo Region. Dean delivered tomato plants to Leslie Houston, Garden Leader, CSC, Ashlynne Boven, Manager Volunteer Engagement, CSC, and Anne Rothwell, Volunteer Engagement, CSC.
During a seminar with CNR during November 2023, Ashlynne Boven identified that produce from these tomato plants were used to enhance meals each year, from July to September. During the seminar, Ashlynne said recipients of the tomatoes say they are tasty and colourful! We will be providing tomato plants to MOW in a few months too. Pictures from part of the tomato harvest are included below.
Submitted by Dean Fitzgerald
Rotary Club of Cambridge North