No More Empty Pots — an Omaha food hub — recently started growing tomatoes at its expansive greenhouse in North Omaha's Highlander Accelerator. Their method is impressive. Four varieties of seeds were planted in plastic buckets. The seedlings were attached to a clothesline with pins connected to a thread that raises them as they grow, replacing stakes.
They bought the buckets in May, planted in June and already are seeing tomatoes of all sizes on the vines. The new crop is part of the nonprofit's nonstop efforts to be ahead of Omaha-area food needs. They not only help struggling families find affordable food, but also support the small local farms that cultivate it.
In its 15th year, the organization is growing and regularly adding new initiatives. No More Empty Pots served 10 percent more people in 2024 than in 2023, totaling 5,043 individuals, according to its annual report. Its services include the Micro Market, which opened in 2023 to help underserved people with reasonably priced produce and boost the farmers who supply it.
It also has nutrition classes, distributes CSA shares and prepared meals to needy families and has a culinary class that offers a certificate that enables those who graduate to find jobs with living wages.
Read more at Omaha World Herald
