Local growing operations have stepped up to the plate, or have continued a tradition of helping to resolve hunger and other issues plaguing Third World countries across the globe.The Rosebud Community Growing Project, and the new Mountain View Growing Project, are volunteer-operated projects that have completed their harvests and are preparing to donate the collected monies to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Winnipeg.Donated funds to the bank are reviewed and multiplied by four by the Canadian government to send to countries in need of aid.This year the two local growing projects will have raised a total of more than $220,000, after their donations have been multiplied.ìWe had all these people come out, with nine combines, two grain carts and five trucks, all donated for the day,î said Clemens Kuelker, co-ordinator of the Rosebud Community Growing Project and chair of the Rosebud Health Foundation.The harvest day, Oct. 13, was a complete volunteer effort, where workers donated their time, and the machinery was also by donation.ìIt really shows the generosity of the community,î said Kuelker of the volunteering involved.Though last year's harvest had the advantage of more land and larger yields, Kuelker said this year was still the second most successful harvest for the project.The brand-new Mountain View Growing Project held its harvest north of Didsbury. While the yields were not as great as expected due to poor weather and hail conditions, the community effort and spirit could not have been greater, according to project member Mike Kohut.The official statistics of the harvest have yet to be totalled, but with a government-aided estimation being anywhere between $120,000 and $150,000, Kohut seemed quite happy.ìThat sort of money goes pretty far in Third World countries,î said Kohut. ìWe wanted to make a bit of a difference and step up to the plate, maybe not in the lives we see every day, but a difference globally.ìBy just letting anyone volunteer and be a part of it, and watch the community and companies come together to make this happen and support it is great,î Kohut added. ìWithout the residents and companies this wouldn't have been possible. We had a standup group of guys as well and their time and effort made this happen.îThe Mountain View Growing Project began with a brainstorming session on how to help give back to the community and abroad during a Bible study at Kohut's home.Kohut and his group of farmers or farm-workers had heard about the growing projects happening across the province and where and what their funds were raised for, and ìwent for it,î he said.The Rosebud Community Growing Project is in its seventh year, with Kuelker coming on board in 2005.The effort has since grown to involve 100 or more donated land lots and the involvement of many individuals and community businesses.Since its beginning in 2004, the Rosebud Community Growing Project has donated about $147,000 to the Foodgrains Bank, including this year's total.The project originally started with harvesting hay, but has since moved to different kinds of grains.ìWe saw a need and an opportunity to do this. So in 2004 there was about four or five people who got together and obtained land, free of rent, to go forward with the project,î said Kuelker.This year the Rosebud Community Growing Project harvest results totalled 7,832 bushels of barley and a payment of about $34,000 from Western Feedlots, with $26,000 being forwarded to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Leftover funds will be going towards expenses and seed for next year.The Rosebud and Mountain View Community Growing Projects are just two of more than 20 similar projects throughout the province.
