As winter approaches and colder weather arrives, the plight of the more than half a million homeless people in the United States becomes even more critical.
With winter approaching and the weather getting colder, there is an urgent need to help the more than 500,000 homeless people in the US.
It is imperative to provide food for everyone experiencing homelessness, but the ideal way to do this is often contested.
A farmer in Massachusetts is using his farming knowledge to produce hundreds of pounds worth of food for homeless shelters.
The traffic island in Beverly caught the attention of John Fallon because of its potential as an allotment.
According to John, “One day at three in the afternoon, I was looking at it,” ABC News WCVB reported. “It was in full sun and I was like, ‘Wow, this is perfect.’
He went to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and asked for permission to set up a garden there.
“I told them, ‘I’m not taking any money from this. It’s all going to charity,'” John said. That’s why they were happy with it.
He started growing on the traffic island five years ago using gardening methods he learned from his father, John, who was already sharing food from his home garden with his neighbors in need.
His Beverly Farms Gardens is home to about 1,000 plants, where last year he grew 3,500 pounds of vegetables for food banks and homeless shelters. He’s gained 7,000 pounds so far this year.
He claimed that among the volunteers he sometimes accepts are college students who helped him with weeding.
In the future, he stated, “I hope to make it a classroom for these departments like biology and environmental science.”
The retired engineer is a big supporter of organic farming and claimed that anyone can easily start a garden like his anywhere to benefit the environment and those in need.
Trying to grow all human food in one place, as we do now in the Midwest, is not good for the environment, according to Fallon. “It would be better if we had many decentralized local gardens where we try to take care of our own, use our own resources.”
John is building a greenhouse so he can plant his own seeds. He wants to set up an irrigation system but needs help from the neighborhood.
John Fallon’s initiative exemplifies the power of individual action to bring about positive change. His selfless dedication to growing fresh produce for the homeless shows that small, community-driven efforts can make a big difference in the lives of those less fortunate. By empowering communities to take responsibility for food production and sharing resources for the greater good, we are moving towards a more sustainable and compassionate future.
As winter approaches, let’s be inspired by John’s incredible example and extend our support to initiatives that seek to alleviate homelessness and hunger in our communities. Together we can create a brighter and more compassionate world for all.