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 Lyons 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.

Soon, Edible Landscapes, in partnership with the Yamhill County Soil & Water Conservation District, will provide a series of educational workshops to ensure community member success in developing and maintaining organic, permaculture,  conservationally-sound gardens.

As we roll out this project, we are assessing the number of lives that have been positively impacted by access to fresh, locally-grown organic produce. In addition to the dietary health benefits of eating yummy fruits and vegetables, gardening increases physical activity, reduces stress, and strengthens social connections.