Free Food Frenzy

"It's an overall sign of the times," said Miller family farm operations manager, David Patterson, when an estimated 40,000 people showed up to pick what was left of the farm’s fall harvest.  Weld County, Colorado residents picked carrots, potatoes, leeks, onions and beets, and shared stories about how their lives have changed since the onset of the economic crisis. 

The Miller farm opened its doors not only to help families who are in need this season, but also to create a lasting impression on adults and children who have never harvested their own food. "Teach them where potatoes come from – the ground," Joe Miller said. "Not a tree, not out of a plastic bag, not out of a greenhouse."

The 600,000-pound surplus of food would have otherwise frozen in the ground in the following days.

Image “Fresh From the garden” by tapescraper on Flickr; Platteville Farm image courtesy cbs4denver.com