Over 1700 pounds of potatoes were harvested and donated on September 25 (Photo: Val Authenac / Authenac Farms)

By Shaun Penner

Charity Harvest

Authenac Farms, volunteers double the donations with second annual charity garden

Oct 13, 2020 | 5:30 AM

It was another successful charity harvest for the Authenac family and all the volunteers who came out to harvest and deliver some fresh produce to those most in need.

The second annual charity harvest took place on September 25 at Authenac Farms near Grande Prairie. The charity harvest first started in 2019 as a way to provide fresh produce to organizations that serve the less fortunate within the community.

“We were looking for a way to give back to the community, that would be meaningful and could grow, and would help organizations feed the people that they need to feed,” said Val Authenac.

In 2019, the farm was able to plant, harvest and donate over 800 pounds of potatoes to groups serving those in need in the community, including the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, Rotary House, the Saint Lawrence Centre and the Salvation Army, along with many others.

After last year’s success, Authenac says she and her family planted over 1700 pounds of potatoes, as well as a quarter-acre of carrots and beets, at the beginning of June of this year, which would be harvested at the beginning of fall for local not-for-profits in need.

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However, her plans to continue growing the charity garden were quickly interrupted on June 18, as she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I was unable to go out into the garden. I had to start chemotherapy right away,” said Authenac.

Authenac says she shared the difficult news with her family and friends, and with little to no hesitation, she says there was a core group of people who were eager to take over the project.

“Four women, primarily: Jackie Mitchell, Tracy Peddy, Krista Umble and Connie Lambert,” said Authenac. “I did nothing in the garden after that point, after I planted the seeds with my family.”

She says the four, along with her family and volunteers from Rising Above Ministries, took charge of maintaining the garden during the summer, as well as arranging for the recipient organizations to send volunteers to help with the harvest on September 25.

Authenac says in all, about 40 volunteers from the different organizations like Rising Above, the Friendship Centre, the Salvation Army, the Elder Care Shelter, Rotary House, Helping Hands of Grande Prairie, Emerald Gardens and Serenity Place were there to help harvest this year’s crop. Volunteers from Hub International, Phoenix Insurance also came out to assist with the harvest.

She says with all the help they had on hand, the entire harvest and delivery was mostly completed within two hours.

Authenac says she is very grateful to everyone who came together to make the second annual harvest a success.

“I am so thankful everyday to be a part of this community, and to have the friends and the family that I do,” said Authenac.

With the second annual harvest all wrapped up, plans are already in the works to make the third harvest even greater in 2021. Authenac says they hope to plant even more produce next year, and any groups that would interested in helping out should connect with them.

“After what I saw this year, I am sure we will only continue to grow and to get people back to their roots and help feed the community. That’s what it is all about, just giving back.”