Growing Gardens

Youth grow: this program empowers pre-k-12 students to explore nature, culture, and food through hands-on stem-aligned classes, after school clubs focused on food justice and healthy cooking, and a high school internship in gardening, food systems, and leadership development. Since 2006, we have partnered with over 20 schools to design and implement garden education programs for elementary school children.

Lettuce grow: this program provides educational classes and gardening experiences to adults and juveniles who are incarcerated across the state of Oregon. Through hands-on production in prison Gardens and classes that provide horticultural credentials, and post-release job connections, we provide incarcerated adults and youth with workforce development in agricultural, horticultural, and food service fields. Currently we are providing classes and services to inmates in 13 adult facilities and 1 juvenile facility in Oregon. On an average year we help to grow over 300,000 pounds of food on 23 acres.

Home Gardens: since Growing Gardens inception in 1996, this program has supported nearly 2,000 families to start home Gardens, supporting fresh food access for over 1,000 adults and children annually. We partner with individuals, families, hospitals and affordable housing developments to build backyard organic Gardens and provide three years of free gardening mentorship, including workshops, equipment and supplies, and support in building community-based leadership.