Food Security United States Project #56128

Powering Community Gardens Across the US

by Seed Programs International

Project Report | Jul 17, 2026
Libraries Connect Communities Through Gardens

By Robyn Love | Project Leader

Seed Library

Thanks to your generous support, Seed Programs International (SPI) continues to strengthen educational gardens and seed libraries across the United States, helping communities grow fresh food while inspiring the next generation of gardeners.

So far this year, SPI has supported 22 primary partner organizations across 16 states by providing donations of quality vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. These community-based programs teach children and adults how to grow food, improve food literacy, encourage healthy eating habits, and create engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

One exciting example comes from North Manchester Public Library in Indiana, where SPI donated seeds to support both the library's seed library and its Dirty Diggers children's gardening program.

"This donation is hugely beneficial," shared Sarah Morbitzer, Children's Department Manager. "We are going to hold on to a few of the packets to use in this summer's Dirty Diggers gardening program for kids. It's donations like these that have allowed us to run the Dirty Diggers program at almost zero cost to the library for several years. We'll also plant some of the seeds in the Tower Garden, so those without access to garden space will be able to harvest herbs, veggies and flowers right here at the library!"

The Dirty Diggers program is now underway, giving children hands-on opportunities to learn where food comes from and how to care for a garden. Participants explored planting techniques, learned the importance of proper watering and plant care, and eagerly planted the library's garden beds. Along the way, they discovered worms and other beneficial insects, turning each gardening session into an exciting learning experience. The children are already looking forward to watching their gardens flourish and celebrating their first harvest later this summer.

Programs like these demonstrate how a simple seed donation can create lasting educational opportunities, strengthen community connections, and increase access to fresh food. Thank you for helping SPI continue to empower libraries, schools, and community organizations to cultivate healthier, more resilient communities across the United States.

Dirty Diggers Program

Library Dirty Diggers Program

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Mar 24, 2026
Sowing Seeds, Growing Community

By Milcah Kigoni | Project Leader

NC Master Gardeners

In Orange County, North Carolina, a volunteer-powered Community Seed Library is transforming access to fresh food and gardening knowledge. Since 2021, they have distributed over 52,000 seed packets through over 150 events and activities, putting quality seeds into the hands of home gardeners, youth programs, and food pantries across the region. Behind every packet is a family growing their own food, a child learning where vegetables come from, and neighbors strengthening nourishment, learning, and connection through community gardens.

The Orange County Extension Master Gardeners run this seed library with a simple but powerful mission: provide seeds and education to anyone who wants to grow. Volunteers host events and hands-on workshops, partner with local food pantries and youth organizations, and support gardeners at every level of experience — from someone planting their first container of tomatoes to a community garden coordinator expanding a neighborhood plot.

Seed Programs International (SPI) has been proud to support this work by donating high-quality vegetable and flower seeds to keep the library stocked season after season. Over the last few years, we have donated over 6,900 packets of seed to their program. This spring, SPI provided 1,400 packets of vegetable and flower seeds to ensure the library was well stocked ahead of planting season. These seeds support a wide range of activities, including weekly and monthly farmers markets, Dig Deeper education programs, outreach to low-income recipients, Meals on Wheels support for elderly or disabled community members, school gardening programs, and community events such as PlantFest, Lavender Festival, and the Hillsborough Garden Club Home Tour. Through these programs, the provided seeds are expanding access to fresh food while equipping individuals and families with the knowledge and confidence to plant and grow their own.

We are proud to support partners like the Orange County Master Gardeners, and deeply grateful to donors like you who make it possible. Every seed carries the potential for nourishment, learning, and connection. Thank you for being part of what grows next.

Sorting Donated Seed

Master Gardeners Outreach Table

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Dec 1, 2025
Gardens that Heal, Calm, and Connect

By Robyn Love | Project Leader

Fostering Hope Garden Instructor

“I’m happy today because of garden group.”
“This garden calms me down way more than school.”
“Can I take this Lamb’s Ear back with me? I want to use it like a fidget?”
“This is so cute. I didn’t know how much I loved gardening.”
“I was mad earlier, but this helped.”

These are just a few of the reflections shared by youth participating in the Fostering Hope gardening program. Fostering Hope is a nonprofit initiative that brings creative, trauma-informed programming to young people in residential treatment facilities and the foster care system. Seed Programs International was happy to partner with them this year to donate seeds and support to their gardening program.

This year, the weekly garden program supported 74 youth, ages 8 to 17, living at a 24-hour residential facility in Ohio.

The program focused on sensory exploration, therapeutic connection with nature, and creative, hands-on learning. Instructors emphasized that there is no single “right way” to garden, encouraging youth to experiment, explore, and discover personal meaning in the process. Sessions also incorporated themes of community, interconnectedness, and shared ownership.

Throughout the summer, participants planted, tended, and harvested their garden spaces—strengthening social-emotional skills, developing confidence, and building a genuine sense of belonging along the way. The youth also prepared for a youth-let Farmers Market Event, developing skills in leadership, marketing, selling produce, and earning funds to support a nonprofit of their choice.

This partnership continues to demonstrate how gardening can provide stability, joy, and healing for youth navigating challenging circumstances. Through consistent weekly sessions, the garden becomes a predictable, calming space where young people can step away from stress, express themselves freely, and experience the pride of nurturing something from seed to harvest. For many participants, these moments of connection—with nature, with peers, and with caring adults—serve as powerful building blocks for resilience and emotional well-being.

Giving Tuesday is December 2 and GlobalGiving is giving $500 million to boost donations to nonprofits worldwide.This is a great opportunity to make your donations go further to support programs like this. Thank you so much for your support!

Garden

Butterfly in Garden

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