Lauren Schroeder, of Dixon, Iowa, was volunteering at a food bank a few years ago when she noticed that it had no fresh produce to give away. So she began growing vegetables on her parents’ farm for those in need. Now 17, Lauren has donated more than 7,000 pounds of produce—including green beans, tomatoes, and carrots—to local nonprofits.
Q: Was this project your introduction to gardening?
A: My parents and I had a small garden that was nothing special. When I got the full garden, it made me realize that this takes a lot more effort than people know—watering, planting, and harvesting by hand.
Q: How did it feel to get started?
A: It was a waiting game. I know things take time, but in the beginning, it was really hard for me to understand that. I was out there watering twice a day, hoping things would pop up.
Q: How have people responded to your produce?
A: Every time I drop produce off, the smiles and how thankful they are—it makes me feel 10 times happier. It feels so good.
Q: What have you learned from this experience?
A: Hard work pays off in the end. It’s a gamble; you don’t know if it’s going to turn out or not. You go out there, you put in your time and effort. And then if it turns out, that’s great. If it doesn’t, there’s always next year.
(This interview was edited and condensed for length and clarity.)