MOSCOW — Every week, a delivery van arrives at the North Pocono Food Pantry packed with carrots, tomatoes, greens, peppers, beets and freshly dug potatoes — straight from the raised beds at the North Pocono Public Library on Church Street.
So far this year, the library’s Garden Project has donated more than 1,200 pounds of food to the pantry and is hoping to end the year with 2,000 pounds donated, according to garden coordinator Richard Rava.
During the garden’s 11-year history, it has donated nearly 12,000 pounds of food to the North Pocono Food Pantry and also added a pollinator area and family garden.
Ed Gorke and Rich Rava look over their late summer garden on Aug. 31, 2026 at North Pocono Public Library’s giving garden. The two work together with other volunteers to provide food for a community food pantry and to teach children about nature and gardening. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
A milk snake shown near the North Pocono Public Library community garden on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. Volunteer Richard Rava regularly explains the area’s ecosystem to children attending a “Dig It” program at the library. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Garden Project’s Richard Rava picks cucumbers in the North Pocono library’s “giving garden” on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
The Apprentice Garden at the North Pocono Public Library is a hands-on community program that trains two local families with children each year on how to plant, grow, and maintain their own organic vegetable garden. The garden is shown here on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Nearly ripe tomatoes shown at the North Pocono Public Library’s giving garden on Monday, Aug. 31. The effort shares food with the North Pocono Food Pantry. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
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Ed Gorke and Rich Rava look over their late summer garden on Aug. 31, 2026 at North Pocono Public Library’s giving garden. The two work together with other volunteers to provide food for a community food pantry and to teach children about nature and gardening. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
The effort not only provides food to those in need, but also educational resources for children and families.
In addition to the Giving Garden, which provides for the pantry, the effort includes an Apprentice Garden and a Pollinator Garden.
The Apprentice Garden began in 2017, geared at engaging and educating families about organic gardening. Two families are selected each year and provided with raised beds, compost, plants, seed and tools.
Master gardeners and volunteers provide guidance every step of the way during planting, growing and harvesting.
The Pollinator Garden was established in 2016 and certified in 2017. The area provides library patrons with an opportunity to enjoy the colors and scents of the flower garden and is a favorite place to relax for those who have spent time working in the vegetable garden.
In addition, the Garden Project partners with the library’s “Kids Dig It” program, which includes both time spent inside for stories and outside to learn about the garden and its environment.
When it comes to young people, Ed Gorke, a volunteer for both the Garden Project and the Food Pantry, said the garden provides experiences that will affect people’s entire lives.
He points out that children often don’t think beyond the supermarket when asked where their food comes from. The garden provides a chance for them to have firsthand experience with growing vegetables, getting their hands dirty as they plant and pick vegetables.
Youngsters especially enjoy harvesting potatoes, which feels like a real-life treasure hunt or digging for gold in the dirt, he said.
Among the topics of the program was “pests and guests,” during which children were introduced to healthy garden visitors, including slugs and snakes.
During that session, Rava pointed out that common garden snakes are valuable helpers, serving as chemical-free pest control.
‘Cultivate hope and nourish families in need’
Bill and Roseanne LaRosa joined the garden’s volunteer team this year and have been enjoying their time in the garden.
The two generally volunteer once a week, but live nearby and are always willing to swing by to check on the garden if needed, including after rainstorms.
The couple has always enjoyed growing their own vegetables, but are especially enjoying participating in a garden geared toward helping others.
“We’re hear to cultivate hope and nourish families in need,” Roseanne LaRosa said.