When Vicky Prusinski first became involved with Mid-North Food Pantry in the spring of 2021, the opportunity felt less like a decision and more like a moment of alignment.
“I got involved when my friend and colleague, Kathleen Connor Strickland, who was serving as Mid-North Food Pantry president at the time, asked if I’d be interested,” Vicky recalls. “I had always wanted to be involved with a food pantry, and this was the perfect blend—it let me use my love of gardening to give back, while still being flexible with my existing work life. It just aligned at the right time, for the right reasons.”
At the time, Vicky was—and still is—the Outdoor Education Coordinator at The Orchard School, a role built on decades of experience in early childhood science, nature education, and sustainability. That background shaped how she approached the pantry garden from the start: thoughtfully, efficiently, and with intention.
“I really tried to listen to the space,” Vicky shares. “I thought about what the garden needed to stay healthy long-term and how small choices—like spacing the beds so a mower could pass through—would make a big difference over time. It was about being intentional so the garden could keep giving back, year after year.”
Once Vicky stepped into the role of Head Gardener, she quickly made her mark. One of her earliest accomplishments was expanding the garden by 55 percent—adding six new raised beds without increasing the footprint of the space. The expansion allowed her to grow more of what the community needed most.
“I could fill every single bed with greens and it still wouldn’t be enough,” she explains. “That’s when I became really intentional about what I planted.”
Collard greens, kale, cucumbers, and tomatoes became staples—not just because they grow well, but because they mattered. Vicky began hearing stories from pantry guests about how the garden reminded them of their grandmothers’ gardens, or how they were excited to cook recipes passed down through generations.
“I wasn’t attuned to growing collard greens before this garden,” she says, “but I learned quickly how important they were. People were able to continue cooking the foods they grew up with. That meant a lot to me to maintain consistency for families.”
Much of Vicky’s work happened quietly. She often gardened during off hours and oftentimes late weekend nights. Harvesting on Sunday nights or early Monday mornings before the pantry opened, with the help of harvesters, was intentional as this is usually when the pantry didn’t receive fresh produce from other sources. She jokingly refers to herself as “the Phantom Gardener.”
“I almost always worked when the pantry wasn’t open,” she says. “It allowed me to just be—while still feeling a huge sense or pride to volunteer and produce as much fresh food as possible for the community.”
just this overwhelming sense of gratitude from everyone I interacted with.” Those moments reinforced what the garden had become not just a source of food, but a place of connection.
“It reminds me how blessed I am to have a skill that can make an impact,” she reflects. “This rings true for me even more so now, the more you give, the more you get.” Beyond the physical harvest, Vicky says the experience changed her personally. Her gardening skills deepened, particularly around growing in bulk, managing pests proactively, and planning for accessibility. But more importantly, her understanding o food access evolved.
“This experience has really stayed with me,” she says. “It’s inspired me to get involved with a food pantry in my new community. I’m carrying forward what I’ve learned about accessibility and how much fresh food matters.”
As Vicky prepares for her next chapter, she reflects on her time at Mid-North Food Pantry with gratitude and pride.
“I have loved my time as the Mid-North Food Pantry gardener,” she says. “I hope the garden continues—so many neighbors appreciate it and look forward to it. I hope it remains a space that keeps providing fresh produce for our community.”
She’s quick to emphasize that the role doesn’t require perfection—only commitment. “You don’t have to be a master gardener,” Vicky says. “If you can keep some plants alive, you can do this. The garden grows a lot on its own. But you must be willing to consistently show up and build it into your weekly routine.”
Looking back, Vicky credits the autonomy and support she received as key to the garden’s success.
“I really appreciated the trust and encouragement,” she shares. “It’s been a pleasure to be part of something so rewarding and so important to our city. I will always think back on my time here fondly, and with great appreciation for what I was able to give and get in return.”
Now Seeking Our Next Head Gardener
As Vicky prepares for her family’s next chapter and move, Mid-North Food Pantry is seeking a new gardener to carry this important work forward.
This role is ideal for someone who loves gardening, values flexibility, and believes in the power of fresh food to build dignity and connection within a community. The time commitment averages about four hours per week and can be scheduled around a full- time job—typically including harvesting early in the week, light weeding, and watering as needed.
You don’t need to be a master gardener—just someone committed to showing up, keeping an eye on growth, to ensure fresh produce reaches pantry guests each week. Whether working quietly behind the scenes or sharing moments of gratitude with neighbors, the garden offers a meaningful way to give back—one season at a time.