Year One Summary (2009)

The ByHP had been simmering for at least eight years until it became a burning within the heart of myself and my family.  For one reason or another circumstances never presented an ideal business plan.  It didn’t matter.  It was time to move forward and perform our labors ‘in motion’.  This year the land, irrigation and a tractor all were presented.  A few days later 7,000 heirloom vegetable plants were given and needed planting.  The very first phone call resulted in 1500 lbs. of Bing cherries being donated and the next, another 6,500 lbs. of pie cherries were donated.  Miracle after miracle presented itself as we put our shoulders to the wheel, laboring with our might.  We knew an impromptu plan was called for.  Business plan or not, this idea grew its own legs.

The amount of food that has been gathered is staggering given the limited amount of effort spent making contacts for food resources.  Everyone who donated has also fallen in love with The ByHP.  It is touching to note how many have sought us out, and then gave so generously.  Each has commented on how great it feels to know that their food is not going to waste.  With such an urgent demand and the need for prompt response, the number of families that have been blessed by the initial efforts of the ByHP is not fully known.  Yet, over 50,000 lbs. of food has been collected, bottled and distributed to families, pantries and food banks this fall.
Nearly half of the food donated has been processed in my own home by my wife and a few volunteers before being distributed.  The other half has been distributed as fresh produce to the families that have volunteered to help in the harvest.

Donations and Accomplishments

• 2 acres of farmland with irrigation
• use of a Kubota tractor, and all attachments for preparing the ground to plant
• 7,000 vegetable plants
• 3,500 were distributed to families for their own gardens
• 3,500 were plated on the 2 acres of donated land
• Cell phone usage from July to present
• 60 cases canning jars
• $8,000 cash donations
• 6,500 lbs. of Pie cherries
• 1,500 lbs. Bing cherries
• 1,000 lbs.Lambert cheries
• 200 lbs.Van cherries
• 500 lbs. Apricots
• 500 lbs. Plums
• 300 lbs. Peaches
• 500 lbs. Pears
• 5,000 lbs. Apples
• 200 lbs. Walnuts
• 200 lbs. Bananas
• 200 lbs. Grapes
• 300 lbs. Onions

• 25,000 lbs. Tomatoes
• 900 lbs. Eggplnt
• 800lbs. Corn
• 500 lbs. Beets
• 500 lbs. Carrots
• 1200 lbs. Potatoes
• 500 lbs. Squash
• 500 lbs. Melons
• 200 lbs. Celery
• 200 lbs. Cabbage
• 300 lbs. lettuce
• 300 lbs. misc. Greens ( beet, chard, etc.)
• 750 lbs. Tomatilloes

We did have one failure. Our bean crop yielded 3 pinto beans.