About Us

GROWINGGARDENS gets at the root of hunger in Portland, Oregon. We organize hundreds of volunteers to build organic, raised bed vegetable gardens in backyards, front yards, side yards and even on balconies. We support low income households for three years with seeds, plants, classes, mentors and more. Our Youth Grow after school garden clubs grow the next generation of veggie eaters and growers! Through Learn & Grow workshops and work parties, we teach gardeners all about growing, preparing and preserving healthful food while respecting the health of the environment.

We plant seeds for good food and healthy people by making sure low income people have the resources they need to grow organic vegetables at home. Through this work, community members meet over the backyard garden, through volunteering, by attending classes, and through sharing extra produce.

Look for us at the 2010 Better Living Show

Awards

Rodney Bender, GROWINGGARDENS Garden Programs Manager, received the 2006 Skidmore Prize for Community from Willamette Week. The prize recognizes the dedication and commitment of people 35 and younger who are working to make the region a great place through nonprofit organizations.

GROWINGGARDENS is proud to receive the 2006 Sustainable Community Award awarded by Food Front Cooperative Grocery.

GROWINGGARDENS is proud to be chosen as a 2003 Public Health Hero by Multnomah County Health Department! Growing Gardens also participates in GuideStar, the on-line standard for nonprofit accountability. Check out our listing.

Mission

GROWINGGARDENS promotes home-scale organic food gardening to improve nutrition, health and self-reliance while enhancing the quality of life and the environment for individuals and communities in Portland, Oregon.

Values

Access to healthful, culturally appropriate food is an inherent right.
Individuals and communities are empowered when they have the knowledge and skills to provide food.
All people deserve recognition and respect for their unique value.
Joy and fun are essential elements in any activity we host, promote, or undertake.
Trust, honesty, open-mindedness and accountability are core elements in all we do.
Quality of life is improved when we respect and honor our environment and when we promote the interconnection of all things.

History

GROWINGGARDENS began as the Portland Home Garden Project in 1996. The organization's original focus was installing home gardens for low income households in Portland. The organization expanded its mission to build gardens in partnership with other organizations with the involvement of hundreds of community volunteers. To reflect this change, the organization was renamed GROWINGGARDENS in 1998. In 1999, GROWINGGARDENS began offering workshops on topics such as basic gardening, composting, cooking and food preservation. An education and service-learning program for youth, called Youth Grow, began in 2000.