Parsons, who was laid off from his job as an electrician last November, says he's raised about 22,000 pounds of food since last April and given nearly all of it to food banks and other charities.

"He sees this as something he can do for the Lord and for the poor, as well," says his friend Dave Tims, who has brought volunteers to the garden to help out.

Parsons began the garden about two years ago, and the loss of his job, while a concern, did give him more time to work at it, he said, as he loaded zucchini and squash into his pickup at the four-acre garden on the city's northern edge.

This day, the food would be delivered to the Sioux Falls Food Pantry downtown. Other donations have gone to The Banquet, which serves free meals to the city's needy.

"I know exactly what everybody out there who is unemployed is feeling," he says. "I get people who come out and they say, 'I know this family, and they're hurting.' Just like I was when I got laid off. So I just start taking wheelbarrows of food to them."

Parsons, 49, is a survivor of testicular cancer. He grew up in Woonsocket, S.D., an upbringing that he says taught him the value of charity.

"We were taught to be this way, to help people," he says. "When you grow up out here in the Midwest and you're farmers, you tend to help each other out."

Since losing his job, Parsons says he's been making ends meet through a variety of sources including his wife Samantha's income from her job at Sioux Falls packaging company and some financial help from friends and relatives. He is still looking for a job.

Parsons does virtually all of the work by hand, hand-tilling every row. That's tough work, says Matt Gassen, director at Community Food Banks of South Dakota, which runs the food pantry.

"Gardening is not easy, and when your plot starts including acres, you've got a challenge ahead of you," Gassen says. "It's really pretty amazing that someone would give of their time and do work that's not always easy. He's just a blessing."

Nancy Brewer, 46, recently moved to the area from North Dakota and came across Parsons' ad on craigslist.org while she was looking for fresh produce last summer. The ad mentioned that volunteers are welcome at the garden, and she jumped at the chance and now volunteers regularly, she says.

"I never even contemplated that there were people out there who didn't have that opportunity to get fresh produce," she says. "It's a selfless act. It's just awesome."

Martin reports for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Enlarge By Elisha Page, Argus Leader Brian Parsons digs potatoes in his garden on the north side of Sioux Falls, S.D. Parsons grows vegetables to donate to people in need, and the sales he makes at his self-service farm stand support the garden.