Editor, The Herald:

As gas and grocery prices continue to rise, giving to charitable causes becomes increasingly more difficult for those of us on fixed incomes. However, with spring coming on, gardeners will have an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause at minimal cost. Plant several extra rows–or more–of beans, cucumbers squash, and other vegetables and donate the produce to FACES Food Pantry.

The pantry, located at 416 N. South St., Farmville, supplies food and other necessities to more than 600 needy households and individuals here in the heart of Virginia. FACES' volunteer staff eagerly accepts locally grown produce, and clients are delighted with the fresh fruit vegetables. The pantry's walk-in coolers allow perishable food to be held until it is distributed.

As the pantry depends on volunteers for operation, hours are limited Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays, 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. For more details call: 9 a.m. to 6p.m., Bo at (434) 395-0038; Linda at (434) 265-0278, or FACES Food Pantry's voice mail: (434) 392-6277.

Most local gardeners share the frustrations of lower yields and a shortened growing season resulting from foliar diseases. Last year we discovered Serenade spray to be very effective against a host of plant ailments. Citing an example, in one planting we harvested cucumbers from June 10th to August 15.

“[Serenade] is so safe you can spray and harvest the same day. OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) listed, Serenade Garden Disease Control contains Bacillus subtilis, a soil-dwelling bacterium that controls leaf blight, black mold, powdery mildew and many other diseases.”

Leroy Miller

Farmville