The gleaning garden at Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore, which provides fresh produce for clients of the Chester County Food Bank (CCFB), was recently dedicated to retired state Sen. Andy Dinniman, who founded the Chester County Gleaning Program in 1996.

Gleaning is based on the biblical concept that the farmer should give some of the crops in his fields to those in need. The book of Leviticus states, "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor."

The newly installed sign at the garden reads, "This garden is dedicated to Senator Andrew E. Dinniman for 28 years of public service to the citizens of Chester County. During his years as a public servant, Andy created and developed Chester County's Gleaning Program, growing food for those in need. Chester County Food Bank's successful Farming & Garden Education Programs owe their roots to the Gleaning Program established by Senator Dinniman in 1996."

The garden dedication ceremony was hosted by Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline. Also in attendance were about 100 community members and gleaning program supporters and volunteers; Dinniman's daughter, Lexi; Bob McNeil, founding and current board chair of the CCFB; and Steve Grabicki, Dinniman's former chief of staff, who now serves as operations director for Sen. John Kane. Grabicki presented Dinniman with a citation from Kane and a letter of congratulations from Gov. Tom Wolf.

Dinniman explained that he developed the program after reading a report by Philabundance, which stated that people in Chester County were suffering from hunger. "(The report) didn't make much sense to me. Hunger is a solvable problem," he stated. "There are many problems that are not easy to solve, but hunger is not one of them. It simply requires the will to solve it."

Dinniman talked about the history of the program and how it evolved through the years, culminating with the formation of the CCFB in 2009. "I hope that today is not just about me, but about those who worked on this Gleaning Program from the very beginning," he said.

He noted that raised bed gleaning gardens have been planted throughout the county at both schools and churches. The first raised garden was at Pocopson Home, where the senior residents could grow food for the program.

Springton Manor's gardens include one acre of fenced-in field space and a demonstration garden, now named for Dinniman, which has 32 raised beds. Seedlings are also started in the site's greenhouse. Last year, nearly 18,000 pounds of produce came from Springton Manor Farm's field, and nearly 1,500 pounds came from the demonstration garden.

Dinniman said that his philosophy about gleaning is the same as it was when the program was founded 25 years ago. "We are not going to be judged by God or by history about how wealthy we were or are," he said. "We will be judged if we are good and decent people, people of faith and people of justice who understand that when you have an abundant harvest, it's your responsibility to share that harvest with your brothers and your sisters."