A Beverly, Massachusetts, man is growing vegetables on a traffic island and donating them to people in need. Since 2016, the philanthropist has donated over 20,000 pounds (approx. 9,072 kg) of vegetables to the homeless community, local food pantries, and charities serving low-income families.
John Fallon, 61, grew up in Beverly Farms and learned how to garden from his Irish immigrant father. Since retiring from a career as a test engineer, Fallon has become an advocate for economic and social justice.
Fallon started out donating tomato plants from his home garden to a farming program for inner-city kids. He graduated to working at Beverly’s community garden, in conjunction with church-run meals programs in the following year, before launching his own project in 2016.
Fallon grows around 1,000 plants, including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, summer, acorn, and butternut squash, green and golden zucchini, eggplant, and broccoli, with occasional help from volunteers. In response to the 2020 pandemic, Fallon upped the ante.
Fallon calculated 8,300 pounds (approx. 3,765 kg) of produce harvested for the year in total. “[I] hope to make 10,000 next year, with some donations for equipment,” Fallon explained to The Epoch Times via email.
Over the years, he has formed a successful partnership with Landmark School in Beverly, claiming that the students comprise “one of my dearest volunteer groups.”
“[I]t is a school for those who have dyslexia and the volunteers are all part of the Environmental Science class taught by Jen Kuhns,” Fallon explained. Describing Kuhns as “a very special person” who grew up on a farm and imparts her wisdom to her students, Fallon praised her seniors for being “great kids.”
“They have spent a lot of time helping me, including seeding plants at their school greenhouse,” he said.
Fallon promotes his “mini-farm” as an outside classroom, and an experience in helping those who are less fortunate, for all local educational institutions.
Beverly Farms Gardens is entirely funded by Fallon plus donations from individuals, local businesses, churches, and The Farms-Prides Community Association, with whom he continues to work.
The selfless gardener’s vision is for others to be inspired by his model.
