When he’s not studying as a 10th grader at Kimberton Waldorf School, Yatin Kapu can be found in his cherished garden, immersed in the soil and surrounded by a thriving array of produce to share. His love for growing food in his backyard began six years ago when he started gardening with his mom, and it has since become a passion that they both deeply enjoy.
Yatin frequently passes along his surplus harvest to friends, neighbors, and fellow gardeners, who also contribute their extra bounty. This spirit of sharing led to the creation of Gardens for People, an organization dedicated to building a network of gardeners who collect excess produce and donate it to local food banks, ensuring that fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables are available to those in need. Just the other day, he described composting four dozen perfectly good bottleneck gourds because all of his fellow gardeners also had excess gourds! Gardens for People will fix this problem, finding a food bank or family who could greatly use those gourds.
Yatin is passionate about the belief that everyone, no matter their income, should have access to nutritious food. His current goal is to enlist 50 gardeners in the local Gardens for People network, with the long-term vision of expanding internationally, building a strong, supportive community of members dedicated to ensuring excess produce finds a good home.
If you are interested in supporting this initiative in any way, such as donating food the following spring or summer, or helping to deliver the food that is collected, please join Yatin’s Nextdoor community here or feel free to reach out to Yatin directly at yatinkapu@gmail.com.
