May Update

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Welcome to May: A Month of Harvest and Celebration!

As the warmth of spring breathes new life into our gardens, May arrives with a bounty of fresh produce and a lineup of delightful celebrations. Across the United States, gardeners eagerly anticipate the harvests specific to their USDA agricultural zones, while simultaneously enjoying a month dedicated to some of our favorite foods. Let's explore what this vibrant month has in store for us!

May Harvests Across USDA Zones

May is a pivotal month for gardeners across various USDA hardiness zones, each experiencing different stages of growth and harvest:

Zones 3-5: These cooler regions are just beginning to shake off the last chills of winter. Gardeners can look forward to the first harvests of rhubarb, asparagus, and leafy greens like spinach and lettuce.
Zones 6-7: In these areas, the growing season is in full swing. Strawberries, peas, and radishes are ripe for picking, adding a splash of color and flavor to springtime salads.
Zones 8-10: Warmer climates are already enjoying a bounty of produce. In these zones, gardeners are harvesting early tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of herbs, perfect for making fresh salsas.

Celebrating Food Throughout May

May is not just about what we can grow, but also about what we can celebrate! This month is dedicated to some of our most beloved foods and culinary creations:

Asparagus Month: A time to celebrate this versatile green, perfect for grilling, roasting, or adding to your favorite dishes.
Strawberry Month: These juicy red gems are at their peak, ready to be enjoyed fresh or in desserts.
Salsa Month: A celebration of this spicy, flavorful condiment that brings zest to any meal.
Salad Month: With gardens in full bloom, it's the perfect opportunity to experiment with fresh greens and toppings for a delicious, healthy meal.

Join us in welcoming this lush and flavorful month as we embrace both the harvests from our gardens and the joy of culinary festivities. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a food enthusiast, May promises to be a month of delicious discoveries!

Are You in the Los Angeles Region?

While the fires from earlier this year are gone, the pain they inflicted will be impacting the communities for quite a while.

AmpleHarvest.org Response, our program that engages the gardening community when a local or regional disaster occurs, is in full swing. When you have a surplus crop in your garden or your fruit trees, consider going the extra distance to donate them to a food pantry in the impacted area. AmpleHarvest.org surveyed all of the food pantries we work with in the area to determined which remained open, which had to close and which may have moved. Visit AmpleHarvest.org to find one eager for your help. And if you don't live in the LA area, let your LA area gardening friends know that they can help the impacted communities heal throughout this year.

Honor Through Giving This Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who served our country. At AmpleHarvest.org, we believe one of the most powerful ways to honor that legacy is through service to others.

This growing season, you can make a difference by donating surplus harvests from your garden to a local food pantry—or by making a financial gift that helps us connect fresh, homegrown food with families in need across the country.

Every tomato, every zucchini, every dollar can nourish a neighbor.
Let’s grow a stronger, more generous community—together.

👉 Donate Food or Give Now

Your Donations at Work

AmpleHarvest.org just celebrated its 16^th birthday! We are hard at work in 5,600 communities nationwide. We're often asked "You are on the Internet... why do you ask for donations?" Great Question. When you make a tax deductible contribution to AmpleHarvest.org, your dollars help:

AmpleHarvest.org expand to more and more communities nationwide, enabling more hungry families to get healthier food from the food pantry they rely on.
Enable more gardeners to learn that the solution to hunger is in their back yard
Help AmpleHarvest.org assure that the food pantry information remains up to date and accurate
Support and expand our special programs including AmpleHarvest.org in Indian Country and Faith Fights Food Waste
Insure that our technology remains easy to use
Cover the normal operating costs including insurance, taxes, etc.
And lastly, help our very small staff earn a living wage.

You can learn a bit more about the impact of your support in our most recent Annual Report

Ps.... If your employer matches your donations, that doubles the good. And if your employer is looking for an amazing nonprofit to partner with, let’s talk.

Hire Gary Oppenheimer as Your Keynote Speaker

Looking to inspire your audience with a message of sustainability and community impact? Hire Gary Oppenheimer, founder of AmpleHarvest.org. As a renowned advocate for food justice, he shares innovative solutions to reduce food waste and combat hunger.

With Gary, your event will feature compelling stories and a motivating call to action, inspiring positive change in local communities. He throws in a free colloquium to a local college or university of your choice as a freebee. Don’t miss the chance to uplift your audience! The speaker fee is a tax deductible donation to AmpleHarvest.org,

Visit AmpleHarvest.org to learn more about booking Gary for your event and join a movement making a difference!

Will you be at the Social Innovation Summit or the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit in June? Send a note to gary@ampleharvest.org to chat!

Food banks are continuing to see large numbers of people needing food assistance. If you've planted a garden, think about growing more to feed more. If you can't grow a garden, share AmpleHarvest.org on social media, volunteer, or donate. Every act of kindness counts.