Food Security United States Project #56128

Powering Community Gardens Across the US

by Seed Programs International

Project Report | Aug 31, 2024
Leveraging partnerships to spread community garden

By Georgia Beasley | Project Leader

Growing gardens in the USA

Community gardens have proven to be a valuable resource in promoting food equity and access to fresh, nutritious produce across the United States. For many urban and rural communities alike, they serve as a lifeline, offering a sustainable solution to food insecurity while fostering a greater sense of local engagement and environmental stewardship.

As we’ve discussed before, we have been harnessing this knowledge to expand our programming in the USA to make a greater difference in these communities. This year, we have made two new partnerships to focus on spreading gardening with kids, nature-based learning, gardens as a space for play, and environmental education.

We know that this particular involvement with children provides not only benefit from fresh food but also from hands-on, nature-based education. These two exciting new partnerships are with Kids Gardening and ChangeX, which will help expand community gardens and make healthy food more accessible to underserved populations.

Kids Gardening, a nonprofit that empowers children through garden-based learning, has been instrumental in integrating gardening into school curriculums and after-school programs. With their expertise and their network, we are providing free access to vegetable seed for all gardens that are a part of the Kids Gardening network. By providing seed free of cost, we are lowering the burden for these oftentimes low-resourced community gardens, allowing them to use their precious financial resources on other items, including paying salaries of those running them. These gardens provide an opportunity for children to learn about the science of plants, environmental sustainability, and the importance of nutrition—all through experiential learning. By working together, we can cultivate a new generation of young learners who are connected to nature and equipped with the skills to grow their own food, fostering a lifelong appreciation for fresh, healthy produce. In June, we launched 5 new partnerships with garden programs through Kids Gardening, and we look forward to even more!

Our collaboration with ChangeX, an organization focused on funding and supporting social change initiatives, brings an additional layer of support to our community garden expansion efforts. Through ChangeX's platform, communities will gain access to the resources needed to start and sustain their own gardens. These resources include seed funding, expert guidance, and toolkits that help local leaders build and maintain their gardens. Together, we aim to spread gardens in areas where they are needed most, ensuring food equity by empowering neighborhoods to grow their own produce and take ownership of their food systems. With ChangeX, so far we have helped 5 community gardens receive support, a garden manual and seed funding!

Ultimately, these partnerships allow us to accelerate the spread of community gardens across the U.S., bringing fresh food and nature-based education to more children and families. Community gardens are a powerful tool for improving health outcomes and addressing food insecurity, especially in marginalized communities. With Kids Gardening and ChangeX by our side, we are excited to continue making a difference, one garden at a time, as we grow a future where every community has access to fresh food and children learn to care for the earth that sustains us all.

Thank you for your support and being on this journey with us. Any donation, big or small, allows us to increase fresh food access and garden learning in the USA, where over 12.8% of all households struggle with food insecurity annually.

Growing gardens with kids in Chicago

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May 3, 2024
Sprouting Together: Growing Seed Libraries

By Georgia W Beasley | Project Leader

Lets grow together!

Last year we launched our first Seed Library program, with Henderson County Public Health Department and one of their local library branches. Since then, that program has expanded to two more library branches in the county, and suddenly we are launching seed libraries in other states and counties in the US. Our vision of creating fresh food access for everyone is at the heart of our initiative to grow seed libraries across the country, in partnership with public health departments, local libraries, and even universities. In 2024, we have four seed library programs in 3 states, and we are looking forward to growing this just like a watermelon vine.Read on to learn more!

Seed Libraries: More Than Just Borrowing Seeds

Our programs go beyond simply providing access to seeds. We partner with public spaces like libraries and community centers to transform them into vibrant hubs for food education and access. Here's how seed libraries are making a difference:

Empowering New Gardeners: Seed libraries offer a low-barrier entry point for individuals and families to try their hand at home gardening. With a diverse selection of seeds, including beginner-friendly varieties, we help people cultivate their own fresh produce, regardless of prior experience.
Increasing Food Equity: The high cost of fresh produce can create food deserts, areas where healthy food options are scarce or expensive. Seed libraries help bridge this gap by providing access to affordable seeds, empowering communities to grow their own nutritious food.
Strengthening Community Bonds: Shared gardens fostered by seed libraries create opportunities for collaboration and social interaction. Workshops, seed swaps, and gardening events cultivate a sense of community and shared purpose, connecting people through a love of growing food.

Partnerships for Impact:

Our collaborations with public health departments, libraries, and universities leverage existing infrastructure and expertise to maximize impact. Here's what makes our partnerships unique:

Public Health Departments: We work with health departments to promote healthy eating as a way to prevent chronic diseases. Seed libraries complement existing health initiatives by encouraging physical activity and access to fresh produce.
Local Libraries: Libraries are ideal locations for seed libraries, offering readily accessible spaces and a natural connection to knowledge sharing. Librarians can guide participants to educational resources on gardening and healthy eating.
Universities: University extension programs and agricultural expertise can be invaluable resources for seed libraries. Students can volunteer their time and knowledge, while universities benefit from community engagement.

Utilizing Existing Spaces:

By utilizing existing public spaces, seed libraries require minimal infrastructure investment, making them a sustainable and scalable solution. This allows us to reach more communities and empower individuals to cultivate a brighter future, one seed at a time.

It is thanks to supporters like you that our seed library programs are possible. Please continue donating to this cause, and better yet, reach out if you want to launch a seed library in your community!

Seed library

Another seed library!

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Jan 5, 2024
Celebrating 2023 as we sow seeds for 2024

By Georgia Beasley | Project Leader

Community garden

At SPI, we believe that everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious food. In the US, we focus on community and school gardens as a way to provide nutrition education and build food justice for those that have limited or no access to fresh produce. We do this to make a small dent to the fact that 44 million people in America suffer from hunger.

We work with community partners to distribute high-quality vegetable seed and other garden resources to make these gardens a possibility. From free seed libraries in partnership with Public Libraries and Departments of Health, national and local nonprofits, school districts and more, we lower the logistic burden of getting gardens off the ground.

Right now, as 2024 begins, we are reflecting on our impact as an organization this past year. In 2023, we distributed 186,399 seed packets to organizations in the US–enough seed to grow 616 tons of food, or 6,788,651 vegetable servings. That’s a whole lot of fresh food directly into the hands of those that need it most: low-income families throughout America.

One of our longest US partners is the Society of St. Andrews, a national organization dedicated to bringing people together to harvest and share healthy food, reduce food waste, and building caring communities. With Society of St. Andrews, we worked with over 47 recipient organizations in 32 cities across 12 states. Thanks to them, seeds are being disbursed that will grow to impact thousands of hungry Americans. These seeds grew gardens in schools, churches, low-income and section 8 housing communities, homeless shelters, community centers and more.

Your support makes this work a reality. While we focus many of our efforts abroad with communities in need, we also know that there is great need in our own backyard, and we are grateful for your support in changing that reality.

Community members planting gardens

Urban farming in action

Flourishing gardens, thanks to you!

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