Jessica Jackson tends her Alpharetta raised beds every single day, growing tomatoes, beans, beets, kale, chard, muscadines, basil and other herbs. She walks among the plots talking to bugs.

Now several of those plots will feed families she has never met.

Jackson is one of more than 20 local gardeners who have signed on to the Homegrown Harvest program, a partnership between Alpharetta's Community Agriculture Program and North Fulton Community Charities that launched Wednesday, July 1. The program channels fresh, backyard-grown produce to residents experiencing food insecurity, Appen Media reported Tuesday, July 28.

"Gardeners are giving people," Jackson said. "We love to grow, and we love to give. We're always trying to pawn our produce off on our neighbors, and nobody wants it, to be honest."

The program was created in response to growing demand at NFCC's food pantry, which serves 3,800 households each year, according to the nonprofit's website. The organization, which assists roughly 9,500 individuals annually, expanded its footprint on Wednesday, March 11, opening a satellite pantry at Bridge to Grace Church in east Roswell to serve up to 100 additional families per week.

Amanda Musilli, community agriculture and sustainability services manager for the city of Alpharetta, said the program pairs gardeners' passion with families who need fresh vegetables, turning backyard harvests into meals for neighbors.

Jackson has agreed to dedicate several plots in her garden to the effort and plans to deliver her first harvest once the crops mature this summer.

In Milton, gardener Kara Mucklow is preparing one of her newly established plots for the program. Mucklow grows tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, cucumbers and raspberries. She said the program nourishes the community in a basic way and shows residents that support exists for those who need it.

How to join

Backyard gardeners interested in participating can sign up at alpharetta-community-agriculture-program.square.site/growers or email [email protected]. The city's Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Services department is also promoting the program on its official Facebook page.