Cornell Cooperative Extension

Schoharie and Otsego Counties
Grow A Row Masthead

Grow a Row: Helping Feed Our Community, One Garden at a Time

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Grow a Row: Helping Feed Our Community, One Garden at a Time

Grow a Row: Helping Feed Our Community, One Garden at a Time

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties (CCESO) invite local gardeners to participate in Grow a Row, a simple yet meaningful way to support our community.

Grow a Row is a community-driven initiative that encourages gardeners to plant an extra row—or grow a little extra—of fruits or vegetables to donate to local food pantries and hunger relief organizations. By sharing fresh, locally grown produce, participants help combat food insecurity and increase access to healthy food across Schoharie and Otsego Counties.

Growers will join a growing network of community gardeners united by a shared commitment to increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables while making good use of the abundance our gardens often provide.

Grow a Row is a small commitment that can make a big difference. Together, we can help ensure more families in Schoharie and Otsego Counties have access to fresh, nutritious, locally grown food.

Thank you for signing up to be a Grower!

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Marcie Foster, Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator, CCESOmkf48@cornell.edu | 607-547-2536 ext. 235

Interested in Being a Grower?

Sign-up Here 

By signing up as a Grower, you will receive gardening education and support from CCESO Master Gardener Volunteers throughout the growing season. Support may include written resources, workshops, and direct assistance, as well as help connecting local food pantries and designated produce drop-off locations.

We are hosting two Grow a Row Informational Programs via ZOOM for interested participants:

In-person information and registration events:

    • Sunday, May 25, 2026, Schoharie County Farmers Market, Sunshine Fair Grounds, 173 South Grand Street, Cobleskill, NY

And an in-person on Square Foot Gardening at the Otsego GROW Garden (123 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY):

By signing up as a Grower, you will receive occasional emails from CCESO about gardening resources, information, and opportunities.

Grow and donate what you can—there are no minimum donation requirements.

Grower a Row Participant Resource:

  1. Grow a Row Brochure
  2. Grow a Row Participant FAQ
  3. Food Pantry Map: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie & Otsego Counties
  4. Produce Donation Tracking Worksheet 
  5. Schoharie County Food Pantry List
  6. Otsego County Food Pantry List
  7. Hunger Coalition of Otsego County: Hunger Coalition of Otsego County | Food Programs & Resources for our Communities

Gardening Resources:

Grow a Row Sample Plans:

Healthy Gardening:

Vegetable Growing Guides and Resources:

Soil Health, Amendment and Composting:

**CCE Harvest NY, in partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM) and the Cornell Soil Health Lab, is offering eligible food-producing gardens in New York State the opportunity to send soil samples for testing without charge.

The soil test will analyze samples for heavy metals and nutrient levels. Test results help gardeners make appropriate plans to produce high quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Technical support and education for participating growers will be available from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York team.

A soil test will be made available to eligible applicants in order of receipt of complete application, until funding is exhausted. Shipping costs associated with sending soil samples to the Cornell Soil Health Lab will also be covered under this funding. The Harvest NY team can work with the grower for this part of the process. For more information: https://harvestny.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=171&crumb=urban_agriculture|7

Contact

Marcie Foster
Horticulture & Natural Resource Educator
mkf48@cornell.edu
607-547-2536 x235 ~ 518-234-4303 x124

Last updated May 21, 2026

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