Meet Barbara Tusting, FBG Board Member 2018-2020

Barbara may disagree, but those of us who work beside her are amazed at her ability to organize on Google Docs, on paper, or in person… then get into the dirt for hours without troweling someone. She's taught all who comes in contact with her that it's ok to pull back a bit until, "the force is with you again". It's a good lesson in "volunteer/life" balance.

As a former office manager, Barbara is well versed in the value of multi-tasking as she co-managers Quimper Grange Garden* with founder Jo Yount and seedling growing specialist, Kim Danner. Barbara excels in making plans and hitting deadlines. Most people in volunteer mode don't want to see either of them again yet when applied to large gardens and projects, planning makes work easier for all involved and form a template to follow the next year. 

Barbara is a Growing Groceries graduate who wants to take the course over and over. Her influence is felt on everything she co-manages with other FBG volunteers:

• Quimper Grange Garden co-management
• Blessings Garden (start up) management
• Spring/Fall Plant Sale management
• Kickstarted the FoodBankGrowers.org website
• Growing out seedlings for the plant sale and for other FB Gardens.
• Saving pots for recycling
• Creating collateral handouts
• Giving input at board meetings 
• Advising the Finance committee
• We'll stop there, but she doesn't…

Having lived in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington, and on board sailing between Maine and Dominica, W.I. for a year… Barbara can go with the flow. She also has 30+ years in ornamental plantings and over 6 years with vegetables and fruit growing. She says she loves pole beans because, 

"It's like a treasure hunt and almost everyone likes me to share with them."

If you'd like to meet Barbara, volunteer with any of the above projects -- 

To work with her is the best way to experience her energy, knowledge, and

cool self. 

*The Quimper Grange Garden has become the defacto ground zero for the Food Bank Growers organization -- many gardening programs and success stories originated there over the past 12 years.