We address these barriers by empowering neighbors to grow and donate produce to local food shelves and senior programs. Giving Gardens is a nonprofit based in White Bear Lake that seeks to build community awareness of local food insecurity, and to build local sustainability through neighbors growing produce to be donated to neighbors in need of access to healthy food options. Giving Gardens benefi
ts the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf as well as other local food shelves and service organizations. Giving Gardens delivered 50- 4'X8' raised bed gardens through our 2017 Spring Launch initiative to people in the community who adopt the garden bed to raise produce to be donated to those in our community who need it most! Giving Gardens provides all of the resources necessary, free of charge, to start growing, to include the garden bed structure, high quality nutrient enriched top soil, and the seeds and started plants. All we ask that those who have adopted a garden bed donate the majority (51% or more) of the vegetables grown to a local food shelf or community support organization that provides "hand to hand" service in assisting nutritional support to those in our community that lack access to fresh produce. The garden beds distributed through the 2017 Spring launch initiative have contributed to over 700 lbs of produce being harvested and donated to the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf and the White Bear Senior Program! Giving Gardens is celebrating this successful growing season with another garden bed launch event over the weekend of October 27th-29th, during which 100 more garden beds will be distributed within the community to the many good folks wishing to adopt them.
