Retired aviation maintenance manager Larry Enfield has transformed his greenhouse into a source of hope for community members facing food insecurity.
Last year, Enfield donated over 600 vegetable plants to the Northfield Community Action Center, a remarkable contribution that provided fresh, healthy food to many local families who use the center’s food shelf.
What makes this achievement even more impressive is the care and attention Larry put into each plant. These weren’t just ordinary seedlings but “spectacular” varieties of tomatoes and peppers that would normally cost $5 or $6 each at a garden center.
For each donation, Larry prepared bilingual care instructions in both English and Spanish, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their gardening experience, could successfully grow their own food.
He delivered the plants in batches of 40 at a time. Within just an hour of each delivery, the plants were gone. This scene repeated day after day until Larry had reached his astounding total of over 600 donated plants.
His initiative even inspired a local greenhouse to follow his example, bringing in an even wider variety of plants for food shelf clients.
Growing a passion for gardening
Larry’s passion for gardening began in childhood when he had a single cucumber plant in his mother’s garden.
“The plant put on a bloom, then a cucumber, and the cucumber got bigger. Everyone was excited for me and excited for my ‘little cucumber that could.’ I was hooked,” Larry recalls with a smile.
Throughout his diverse career — nine years in the Marines followed by decades in aviation that took him around the world — Larry maintained his connection to the earth. Now, in retirement, he’s planted his roots firmly at the farm he’s called home for the past 20 years.
The seed of Larry’s donation project was planted when he joined the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program in Goodhue County. Using the greenhouse attached to his home, Larry embarked on an ambitious project to grow plants specifically for donation.
Harvesting connections
Larry’s commitment to fighting food insecurity extends beyond his plant donations. He volunteers three days a week at the Northfield Food Shelf and helped establish “Growing Connections,” a garden project at his Lutheran church that has donated over 8,000 pounds of produce to the Kenyon Food Shelf.
His heart is especially touched when he sees kids excitedly picking out their favorite foods with their parents without needing to think about the cost.
For Larry, gardening offers “a certain kind of peace.” It’s a space where he can focus entirely on the present moment while troubleshooting plant problems, skills that hearken back to his aviation career.
Now, he’s sharing that peace one plant at a time, creating connections that grow far beyond the garden.
Enjoy growing veggies anywhere!
Larry Enfield traveled around the world and always prioritized creating space for growing vegetables, even if only on a windowsill. Here are his tips.
- Start small and simple. Begin with easy-to-grow plants like leaf lettuce. Larry says, “You don’t have to grow big, round heads of iceberg lettuce. When it gets tall enough, 5 inches, you can cut and use it in your dishes.” Even a small harvest adds color and flavor to your meals.
- Try windowsill herbs. No yard? No problem! Fill a small planting tray with soil, sprinkle herb seeds (such as dill or cilantro) on top, and place it on a sunny windowsill. “Dill is a lot of fun. It’s like having a tiny lawn in your container.”
- Embrace imperfection. “A lot of people envision a glossy grocery store vegetable when they start out. Don’t worry about how big your vegetables are or how they look. It doesn’t have to be perfect. YOU grew it!”
- Build on success. Each small gardening victory builds confidence. Start with one success and let your garden grow from there. “Next year, you’ll think: Wow, what else can I do?”
Permission is granted to news media to republish our news articles with credit to University of Minnesota Extension. Images also may be republished. Check for specific photographer credits or limited use restrictions in the photo title.