Giving Gardens: A Community Project

We received a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation in November 2023 to support the development of edible gardens at Mac Habitat's Aspire community, multiple Yamhill County Head Start schools, and McMinnville High School.

Jennifer Lyon of Mac Habitat faciliated a project naming activity, birthing "Giving Gardens."

All 28 garden beds for this project were delivered in May 2024.

In June 2024, a group of Edible Landscapes volunteers, McMinnville High School Horticulture teacher Brian Altree, and students assembled eight garden beds to be used for the high school culinary program.

Six garden beds are nestled in the Mac Habitat Aspire community for residents to grow fresh vegetables and fruits. 

This data shows the broad positive impact  the Giving Gardens has had in providing access to fresh, locally-grown organic produce. In addition to reaping the dietary health benefits of eating yummy fruits and vegetables, community members involved in this project are experiencingincreased physical activity, stress reduction, improved sense of autonomy, and strengthened social connections.

Head Start Centers in Sheridan, McMinnville, and Newberg all have gardens installed and the children are  learning how to care for them.

At Newberg Head Start, in addition to the garden beds, we installed a pollinator garden, apple trees, berries, currants, and a wide array of native plants. Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District helped us choose species that will thrive in the space, and will improve biodiversity and soil health.