![]() Root Cause Farm will be hosting once-a-month Sanctuary Space work days throughout winter. People can use this sign-up sheet to volunteer! Sanctuary Space Work Days: March 14th 2021 3 - 5 pm Dr. George Washington Carver Community Workday WHEN: Friday, February 26th from 2:30-5:30pm WHERE: The park is located at 30 George Washington Carver Ave, next to Stephens-Lee We will be focusing on mulching pathways, light tree pruning, and clearing invasive plants. There will be a hands on demo of each pruning technique as well as a tour of the park. This will be a recurring event every fourth Friday of the month. Please wear a mask to this event and maintain social distance practices. Stephens-Lee is not open to the public so we won’t be able to use the bathrooms there. You might see children in and out of the facility, but they are only open for the learning pods program for right now due to Covid-19. We will have some extra tools for folks to use as well as hand sanitizer, but any gloves, loppers, pruners or weeding tools you can bring are much appreciated. These community workdays are being presented in partnership with the City of Asheville. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Dr. George Washington Carver Edible Park Facebook page Come give your time and support to Asheville's first edible forest ecosystem! We look forward to seeing you!" Vance Elementary Peace Garden (Now Lucy S. Herring Elementary Peace Garden) FEAST @ Home Cooking Videos: Jordan Diamond, the FEAST Garden Coordinator at Lucy S. Herring Elementary, has launched FEAST @ Home: a series of cooking videos that teach kids how to make yummy, easy snacks using a new veggie every week. Each week for the next 6 weeks, Jordan will upload a new video to the FEAST Peace Garden YouTube Channel. Videos and a recipe will be shared with teachers every week so they can incorporate them into their weekly lessons and share with families. Students are encouraged to follow along and make the recipes at home (with adult supervision!). If you have a child that doesn't attend Lucy S. Herring Elementary but you would like to use these videos for your Home School routine, contact Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net to be added to the email list. Herring Peace Garden Workdays: Fridays from 1:00- 2:30 pm Join us for socially distant garden workdays! BYO mask and gardening/work gloves and RSVP to cathy@bountifulcities.org or jordan.diamond@acsgmail.net Produce Sharing: Know someone who needs access to fresh produce? Visit the Lucy S. Herring Elementary Peace Garden or Hall Fletcher FEAST Garden on Tuesday afternoons and check out the produce sharing tables! Thanks to a generous, weekly donation from Mother Earth Food, we are able to share produce with the community through our school gardens. Join each garden's Facebook page to see updates each week. Soul and Soil Project's farm in Fairview is in need of helping hands! Get down in the regenerative-market-farm and help us prepare for autumn and winter. Their farm helps support their nonprofit's Resilience curriculum and outreach efforts. Register to volunteer on Eventbrite via soulandsoilproject.org. Mon, Tues, Fri 9am-2pm. ![]() The Seed Library & Tool Library
The Seed Library and Tool Library are free resources for our community and garden members to utilize, and also will accept reciprocity if you find yourself in the position of having extras. Normally, the seed library is located at the Burton Street Recreation Center at the end of the hallway to the left near the exit sign, but due to recent restrictions we have limited access to our library. If you’re in need of seeds for the growing season please reach out to isa@bountifulcities.org. The tool library is located at the Bountiful Cities Pearson Community Garden location (located at 408 Pearson Dr.) For those interested in borrowing items from the Tool Library contact Isa Whitaker directly prior to getting the item/s out of the library. You can reach Isa by email: isa@bountifulcities.org
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Solar PanelsBountiful Cities is very excited to be moving towards renewable energy at the Pearson Garden this coming season! The Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy has donated solar panels and is working with us to get the garden on solar power, which will provide electricity for all of the shared community spaces, walk-in cooler, pavilion, and greenhouses. While we have been able to get some of the resources donated for this project, there is still a lot to do. If you'd be interested in joining us for an educational community workday or donating funds/materials towards this project, FILL OUT THIS FORM or reach out to us directly. Looking forward to working with you on making Pearson gardens more of a sustainable community resource this season! Check out this video created by Jay Hill they made with the Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy and the Burton Street Peace Gardens during their solar installation last year:
https://youtu.be/FRJAqVsurB8 Systems Need to Change...As we welcome 2021 we see even more evidence of the need for systems change! Last year brought us many reveals of the reckoning needed for moving toward reparations centering racial equity. Bountiful Cities work will continue to nourish our relations alongside communities creating access and pathways to resources for thriving local food abundance centered in racial equity. Looking to Spring |
We need help to keep these important workshops and programs going! Suppling tools, seeds, education, and on-going support are long term solutions to some of the systemic injustices that cause food insecurity. Now more than ever, systems need to change so that all people have access to food and resources. Bountiful Cities envisions abundant, food secure communities and works to make that vision a reality. |
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We hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season and we are eager to see what the New Year brings!
If you’re looking to catch up on any of the workshops we had this year you can find them HERE
We are so thankful for you all, check out our gratitude video HERE
Community Garden Network Events
Root Cause Farm will be hosting once-a-month Sanctuary Space work days throughout winter.
People can use this sign-up sheet to volunteer!
Sanctuary Space Work Days:
December 13th 2020 3- 5 pm, January 17th 2021 3 - 5 pm
February 21st 2021 3 - 5 pm, March 14th 2021 3 - 5 pm
Vance Elementary Peace Garden
The cold weather has slowed things down in the garden! We have a few beds of greens and root crops under row covers, and continue to share produce from Mother Earth Food on Tuesday afternoons. Now is a season of working on garden infrastructure and looking ahead to the spring! We were able to purchase season extension equipment to improve the grow light system that we use to start seedlings for the spring plant sale and summer garden thanks to a grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation.
Workdays are now from 1- 2:30 pm on Fridays- weather permitting and excluding 12/25 and 1/1
Winter projects include:
December - laying black tarps to solarize a garden bed, mulching paths, mending garden borders
January - February: Installing a paving stone floor in the greenhouse
February - March: Building outdoor seedling tables and starting seeds for spring plant sale/ garden
Other Community Resources/Events :
Soul and Soil Project's farm in Fairview is in need of helping hands! Get down in the regenerative-market-farm and help us prepare for autumn and winter. Their farm helps support their nonprofit's Resilience curriculum and outreach efforts.
Register to volunteer on Eventbrite via soulandsoilproject.org. Mon, Tues, Fri 9am-2pm.
Visit soulandsoilproject.org for more info.
Services
Asheville Edibles: The City is now accepting applications for their Asheville Edibles program. As of 2018, Bountiful Cities has contracted with the City to manage this program. The program allows citizens to start edible gardens on parcels of City land located in various areas of town. There is no cost to lease the land. All you need is helping hands. More info/Applications available here.
Please contact Isa Whitaker by email: isa@bountifulcities.org for more information on how to participate.
If you’re looking to catch up on any of the workshops we had this year you can find them HERE
We are so thankful for you all, check out our gratitude video HERE
Community Garden Network Events
Root Cause Farm will be hosting once-a-month Sanctuary Space work days throughout winter.
People can use this sign-up sheet to volunteer!
Sanctuary Space Work Days:
December 13th 2020 3- 5 pm, January 17th 2021 3 - 5 pm
February 21st 2021 3 - 5 pm, March 14th 2021 3 - 5 pm
Vance Elementary Peace Garden
The cold weather has slowed things down in the garden! We have a few beds of greens and root crops under row covers, and continue to share produce from Mother Earth Food on Tuesday afternoons. Now is a season of working on garden infrastructure and looking ahead to the spring! We were able to purchase season extension equipment to improve the grow light system that we use to start seedlings for the spring plant sale and summer garden thanks to a grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation.
Workdays are now from 1- 2:30 pm on Fridays- weather permitting and excluding 12/25 and 1/1
Winter projects include:
December - laying black tarps to solarize a garden bed, mulching paths, mending garden borders
January - February: Installing a paving stone floor in the greenhouse
February - March: Building outdoor seedling tables and starting seeds for spring plant sale/ garden
Other Community Resources/Events :
Soul and Soil Project's farm in Fairview is in need of helping hands! Get down in the regenerative-market-farm and help us prepare for autumn and winter. Their farm helps support their nonprofit's Resilience curriculum and outreach efforts.
Register to volunteer on Eventbrite via soulandsoilproject.org. Mon, Tues, Fri 9am-2pm.
Visit soulandsoilproject.org for more info.
Services
Asheville Edibles: The City is now accepting applications for their Asheville Edibles program. As of 2018, Bountiful Cities has contracted with the City to manage this program. The program allows citizens to start edible gardens on parcels of City land located in various areas of town. There is no cost to lease the land. All you need is helping hands. More info/Applications available here.
Please contact Isa Whitaker by email: isa@bountifulcities.org for more information on how to participate.
The Seed Library & Tool Library: Free resources for our community and garden members to utilize, and also will accept reciprocity if you find yourself in the position of having extras.Normally, the seed library is located at the Burton Street Recreation Center at the end of the hallway to the left near the exit sign, but due to recent restrictions we have limited access to our library. If you’re in need of seeds for the growing season please reach out to isa@bountifulcities.org.
The tool library is located at 408 Pearson Dr. For those interested in borrowing items from the Tool Library contact Isa Whitaker directly prior to getting the item/s out of the library. isa@bountifulcities.org

All workshops being presented through the Community Garden Network are in partnership with the City of Asheville.
Resilience is Something We can GROW!
Community Garden Spotlight...

Michael Stratton and his community started the Fairview Road Resilience Garden this spring in response to Covid-19 with the goal of growing as much food as possible for donation. At the end of this growing season they had donated over 400 pounds of veggies to Bounty and Soul to distribute. Sweet potatoes, peppers, melons, cabbage, broccoli and beans were some of the many fresh vegetables produced and shared from their gardens. That amount of production could only happen in a brand new garden with lots of collaboration, "We built a steering committee who contributed money and labor to keep the garden going" Stratton says. Regular meetings and workdays (with masks!) in the garden helped the group stay in communication. It is not an easy task to keep a group of people focused on garden maintenance in the midst of a pandemic, Stratton and his group hope to double or triple their yield next year and their efforts will bring increased resilience to their Oakley community in more ways than one. Follow them on Facebook to find out more about their Fairview Road Resilience Garden.
FEAST Updates
Social Distance Garden Workdays at Vance Elementary:
Tuesdays 1pm- 4pm and Fridays 10am- 11:30 am
** Will continue until at least Thanksgiving and likely into December depending on tasks and weather. BYO face covering, garden gloves, and weeding tools and RSVP to Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net or Cathy@bountifulcities.org
- Donate your bagged leaves and veggie scraps to the Vance Peace Garden compost project!
- Seeking volunteers skilled in laying paving stones to help re-do the Greenhouse floor this winter!
Contact Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net for more info. Also check out this blog post Jordan recently wrote for Asheville Greenworks/ Bee CityUSA about her monarch project at Vance.
Tuesdays 1pm- 4pm and Fridays 10am- 11:30 am
** Will continue until at least Thanksgiving and likely into December depending on tasks and weather. BYO face covering, garden gloves, and weeding tools and RSVP to Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net or Cathy@bountifulcities.org
- Donate your bagged leaves and veggie scraps to the Vance Peace Garden compost project!
- Seeking volunteers skilled in laying paving stones to help re-do the Greenhouse floor this winter!
Contact Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net for more info. Also check out this blog post Jordan recently wrote for Asheville Greenworks/ Bee CityUSA about her monarch project at Vance.
Before the first frost last week, a few families came to the Tuesday afternoon Vance Garden workday to dig up sweet potatoes and harvested a whopping 26 lbs!! The kids were so excited and proud, and each took a few potatoes home.
Free Food Pantries Building Community Resilience
Two Asheville neighborhoods, Shiloh and East End, received free food pantries at the end of October which will be stocked by an initial donation from Buncombe County and on-going donations from local residents. So many collaborations made these pantries happen! Bountiful Cities, Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, Green Opportunities, The City of Asheville, St. James AME Church, Shiloh Community Garden, and Town and Mountain Realty, came together with individuals and volunteers to design, create, install and paint. Donations of shelf stable food and supplies are accepted!
Shiloh Community Resource Center Fundraiser
Help raise funds for The Shiloh Community Association to open a SCA Community Resource Center in the neighborhood! The Shiloh Community is one of the oldest and most historic African American communities in Asheville, NC. The funds raised here will go towards a resources center, with office space for the SCA , residential business incubation, classroom and community meeting space, a certified kitchen and more resources for neighborhood. This has been a goal of the SCA since the writing of the 2025 plan back in 2010.
Donate here: https://gf.me/u/y67667
Donate here: https://gf.me/u/y67667
Bountiful Cities is so pleased to have two new
Business Sponsors!
Leonetti is a Town and Mountain Realty Group. They believe strongly in giving back and getting involved. Luiz, Jessi and Nan spent many years working for non-profit organizations striving to make significant contributions to causes they are passionate about. Leonetti values healthy choices, empowerment by experience, and plain old getting outside!
Gaia Herbs is proud to be a Certified B Corporation®, actively working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. The Gaia Farm is nestled in the Pisgah Forest area of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and herbs are grown organically, sustainably, and intentionally. Since Gaia Herbs was just a seedling in 1987, they have remained true to our purpose: Connecting people, plants & planet to create healing.

Cooking with Summer Garden Bounty - Virtual WorkshopCathy Cleary, author of The Southern Harvest Cookbook will teach a FREE virtual cooking class for Bountiful Cities on Wednesday July 29th from 4pm-5pm. She will demonstrate techniques and recipes for making delicious dishes, and preserving veggies that are plentiful this time of year. There will be time for questions, but unfortunately, no tasting will be possible! BUT the recipes will be shared so you can replicate your own versions of the dishes at home.
Please fill out THIS FORM to register for the class by Tuesday July 28th. You will be sent a zoom link after you register. If you have any questions email cathy@bountifulcities.org
Facebook event page
Please fill out THIS FORM to register for the class by Tuesday July 28th. You will be sent a zoom link after you register. If you have any questions email cathy@bountifulcities.org
Facebook event page

Purchase your plants from Bountiful Cities Nursery!
It's mid-summer, time to start thinking about a fall garden! If you need plants consider supporting our programs by purchasing them from our Pearson Garden Plant Nursery. You can order them from our website HERE.
It's mid-summer, time to start thinking about a fall garden! If you need plants consider supporting our programs by purchasing them from our Pearson Garden Plant Nursery. You can order them from our website HERE.
Other Community Resources/Events
The NC State Extension garden guide describes a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are updating this list regularly.
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
The NC State Extension garden guide describes a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are updating this list regularly.
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Thanks so much to everyone who attended the virtual workshop a couple weeks ago, and a big thank you to Chris Smith for teaching the workshop, and to Cathy Cleary for all of her assistance with the workshop.
If you missed the workshop you can find the recording HERE
Also be sure to out Chris' book "The Whole Okra: A Stem to Seed Celebration"
If you missed the workshop you can find the recording HERE
Also be sure to out Chris' book "The Whole Okra: A Stem to Seed Celebration"
Community Garden Network Events and Resources
Community Garden Clean Up at Pisgah View
WHEN: July 1st from 11am-3pm
WHERE: 1 Granada St, Asheville, NC
There will be a garden clean up at the Pisgah View Community Garden to get it ready for cover cropping to grow during the fall. There are lots of needles in the garden area, so it will be a super cautionary clean up with tasks such as weed eating, lawn mowing and removing trash. Please wear heavy duty gloves and protective gear. Facebook event page
The NC State Extension Community Garden Guide describes “a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.”
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are also currently hiring for a Program & Marketing Associate, you can find their job listings here
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Community Garden Clean Up at Pisgah View
WHEN: July 1st from 11am-3pm
WHERE: 1 Granada St, Asheville, NC
There will be a garden clean up at the Pisgah View Community Garden to get it ready for cover cropping to grow during the fall. There are lots of needles in the garden area, so it will be a super cautionary clean up with tasks such as weed eating, lawn mowing and removing trash. Please wear heavy duty gloves and protective gear. Facebook event page
The NC State Extension Community Garden Guide describes “a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.”
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are also currently hiring for a Program & Marketing Associate, you can find their job listings here
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Bountiful Cities nursery has an abundant selection of organic edibles, pollinator plants, medicinal and culinary herb starts ready for the growing season! A list of our current inventory can be found here. All payments will be made online to maintain safe social distancing practices, we'll be happy to coordinate pick up and delivery options upon purchase. Feel free to reach out to Alex Bergdahl at alex@bountifulcities.org with any questions.
I just want to start by acknowledging that I know I haven't been as active or responsive to all of my emails and other forms of communications as I usually am. I've been trying to still get things done and respond to folks as efficiently as possible, but I am aware I'm not as fully present as I usually am. The injustices faced by People of Color on a daily basis has been taking a toll on my mind, body and soul (on top of still trying to navigate the current pandemic situation). The recent murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hand of United States police officers, and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of United States citizens has been weighing heavy on my mind, as well as the other lives that have been lost due to similar situations in recent years. As a "black" man in America raising a "black" son I find it frightening and at times hopeless to attempt to live a normal life in this country, this country where I was born, and my parents were born, and their parents and generations before them leading back to the times of slavery.
The systematic racism that this country is running on is more apparent than ever, and it breaks my heart to realize there are some that still don't see it or care to acknowledge it. I have attended local protests and seen first hand the way the local authorities have responded to the citizens who they have sworn to protect, I have also seen the way agitators in the crowds have played a part in attempting to tarnish these protests. While at times things seem like they may never get better, I do have a great appreciation for the people who have reached out to me personally to check in, and to those who I have seen speaking out and showing up to battle these injustices in various ways. When I look and see faces of all colors standing together to show the world these injustices won't stand, it inspires me to hold on to hope and keep my faith that maybe things aren't as dark as they may seem. So, I want to say thank you to everybody that is invested in this fight, and I hope that you are down for the long ride, because it's been a long one and there's a lot of work to still be done.
On behalf of myself and the Community Garden Network that I coordinate I wanted to make sure to let it be known where I stand, and let it be known that I'll do everything in my power to fight against these injustices that I myself face as well as many others.
The systematic racism that this country is running on is more apparent than ever, and it breaks my heart to realize there are some that still don't see it or care to acknowledge it. I have attended local protests and seen first hand the way the local authorities have responded to the citizens who they have sworn to protect, I have also seen the way agitators in the crowds have played a part in attempting to tarnish these protests. While at times things seem like they may never get better, I do have a great appreciation for the people who have reached out to me personally to check in, and to those who I have seen speaking out and showing up to battle these injustices in various ways. When I look and see faces of all colors standing together to show the world these injustices won't stand, it inspires me to hold on to hope and keep my faith that maybe things aren't as dark as they may seem. So, I want to say thank you to everybody that is invested in this fight, and I hope that you are down for the long ride, because it's been a long one and there's a lot of work to still be done.
On behalf of myself and the Community Garden Network that I coordinate I wanted to make sure to let it be known where I stand, and let it be known that I'll do everything in my power to fight against these injustices that I myself face as well as many others.
~Isa Whitaker, Community Garden Network Coordinator
Dear Bountiful Cities Supporter,
Whether it is managing grief, holding on to moments of joy, or some other response, each one of us has our own experience and ways of dealing – perhaps changing daily – with the COVID-19 outbreak. In recent weeks, I have been struck by both the significant human toll and the outpouring of support for one another in our communities. As I reflect on so many responses to the pandemic, I am reassured by the work that Bountiful Cities is doing, and has been doing since its inception.
Today, as always, Bountiful Cities remains committed to partnering with community groups, focusing on dialogue, trust and community needs, to create urban agricultural spaces. We know now, more than ever, how important it is to share agricultural skills and resources to promote social justice and economic viability.*
As Bountiful Cities gets seeds in the ground and harvests cool-weather veggies, we have our eyes set on the coming months, recognizing that long-term food security efforts must be part of a coordinated response. We center racial and economic equity by working with existing partners and communities that invite our collaboration, supporting the community garden network, maintaining local school gardens, and ensuring that gardening tools and supplies are available to community and individual gardeners. At the same time, we continue to co-build capacity of communities for growing food, such as identifying land and providing technical assistance through our advocacy efforts and engaging in residential services through Grass to Greens.
The victory gardens of the past must be reshaped for today’s world, so that we are growing with and for each other, not only now but into the future. We know that people of color and people with lower wealth have once again been the most devastated because of the failings of our political, social, and economic systems. Only when communities act with their own self-determination are our systems and outcomes different, and better for all of us.
As you read Bountiful Cities’ newsletter, I hope you will note the ways that the staff and organization continue to join with each other and our partners to sustain the fundamental shifts necessary to move forward and be healthy. If you can support these efforts now, please donate.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Bountiful Cities. We hope you are well and safe, send you the very best, and hope to see you soon.
Keep well,
Ameena Batada
Chair, Bountiful Cities Board
Whether it is managing grief, holding on to moments of joy, or some other response, each one of us has our own experience and ways of dealing – perhaps changing daily – with the COVID-19 outbreak. In recent weeks, I have been struck by both the significant human toll and the outpouring of support for one another in our communities. As I reflect on so many responses to the pandemic, I am reassured by the work that Bountiful Cities is doing, and has been doing since its inception.
Today, as always, Bountiful Cities remains committed to partnering with community groups, focusing on dialogue, trust and community needs, to create urban agricultural spaces. We know now, more than ever, how important it is to share agricultural skills and resources to promote social justice and economic viability.*
As Bountiful Cities gets seeds in the ground and harvests cool-weather veggies, we have our eyes set on the coming months, recognizing that long-term food security efforts must be part of a coordinated response. We center racial and economic equity by working with existing partners and communities that invite our collaboration, supporting the community garden network, maintaining local school gardens, and ensuring that gardening tools and supplies are available to community and individual gardeners. At the same time, we continue to co-build capacity of communities for growing food, such as identifying land and providing technical assistance through our advocacy efforts and engaging in residential services through Grass to Greens.
The victory gardens of the past must be reshaped for today’s world, so that we are growing with and for each other, not only now but into the future. We know that people of color and people with lower wealth have once again been the most devastated because of the failings of our political, social, and economic systems. Only when communities act with their own self-determination are our systems and outcomes different, and better for all of us.
As you read Bountiful Cities’ newsletter, I hope you will note the ways that the staff and organization continue to join with each other and our partners to sustain the fundamental shifts necessary to move forward and be healthy. If you can support these efforts now, please donate.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Bountiful Cities. We hope you are well and safe, send you the very best, and hope to see you soon.
Keep well,
Ameena Batada
Chair, Bountiful Cities Board
Our Food Systems are Changing!
Community and Home Gardens Provided over 40% of produce in the US in the 1940's Victory Garden Era.
Community and Home Gardens Provided over 40% of produce in the US in the 1940's Victory Garden Era.
Home Grown Gardens Can Feed Us
Are you growing a garden for the first time? Or the first time in years? Mountain Xpress reports a huge surge in garden supply sales in THIS ARTICLE.
That's WONDERFUL! Did you know that in the 1940's home gardeners and community gardens produced over 40% of the produce consumed in the US? We can do that again, and we NEED to do it again. Find out more about Bountiful Cities Community Garden Network in this article from Mountain Xpress.
Our Food System is Changing - let's make it BETTER
LISTEN to this podcast from Reveal on Essential Farm Workers and READ this article from Politico about how Coronavirus is increasing Food Waste for a taste of how the Food System is already changing. We can make it better, more just, and equitable right now.
Bountiful Cities has been supporting low-wealth communities working to achieve LONG TERM FOOD SECURITY through urban agriculture for the last 20 years. We need your help TODAY to sustain EVERYONE in our community in this time of change!
Please donate today to help us GROW Food Security
Now is the time to PLANT!!
It's springtime and the perfect time to get seeds in the ground.
Take this SURVEY! Tell us what you want to know about growing a garden. Tell us what you have learned and what you need to learn!
We are developing and compiling on-line Virtual Workshops and FB LIVE Question and Answer sessions to help new and seasoned gardeners GROW AS MUCH FOOD AS POSSIBLE!
Check out this VIDEO in our Virtual Workshop collection on how to start a weed-free raised bed.
Or this VIDEO on starting a container garden with companion plants.
For more growing expertise check out these awesome local resources:
Sow True Seed - Local Source for Open Pollinated Seeds
Living Web Farms Videos - Hands on Gardening Demos and Workshops
Organic Growers School - Gardeners Library
Buncombe County Master Gardener Helpline - Helpline to Answer Gardening Questions
Can you grow a little extra for those who are houseless or those who don't have a yard or resources to grow? If you can, plant some extra! Bountiful Cities can help get extra produce to where it is needed most!
Take this SURVEY! Tell us what you want to know about growing a garden. Tell us what you have learned and what you need to learn!
We are developing and compiling on-line Virtual Workshops and FB LIVE Question and Answer sessions to help new and seasoned gardeners GROW AS MUCH FOOD AS POSSIBLE!
Check out this VIDEO in our Virtual Workshop collection on how to start a weed-free raised bed.
Or this VIDEO on starting a container garden with companion plants.
For more growing expertise check out these awesome local resources:
Sow True Seed - Local Source for Open Pollinated Seeds
Living Web Farms Videos - Hands on Gardening Demos and Workshops
Organic Growers School - Gardeners Library
Buncombe County Master Gardener Helpline - Helpline to Answer Gardening Questions
Can you grow a little extra for those who are houseless or those who don't have a yard or resources to grow? If you can, plant some extra! Bountiful Cities can help get extra produce to where it is needed most!
Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors!!
Don't have extra veggies yet, but do have extra compost?
If you have a Compost Now account and want to share your compost with a Bountiful Cities garden we are one of their garden partners!
Click HERE to share your compost with us!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in volunteering in a Bountiful Cities garden? We are having small garden workdays with one or two volunteers at a time so we can maintain social distancing. Please fill out this FORM so we can learn more about you!
If you have a Compost Now account and want to share your compost with a Bountiful Cities garden we are one of their garden partners!
Click HERE to share your compost with us!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in volunteering in a Bountiful Cities garden? We are having small garden workdays with one or two volunteers at a time so we can maintain social distancing. Please fill out this FORM so we can learn more about you!