Urban Foods Outreach (UFO): Community Gardens
About
The Growing Project works with Fort Collins Housing Catalyst, Habitat for Humanity, Fort Collins nonprofits and various mobile home parks on North College Avenue to install a number of gardens in low-income areas. With the assistance of our garden gurus and volunteers, UFO hosts and residents are educated and provided the tools they need for soil preparation, plant identification, watering needs, design and implementation, and the harvesting of the garden. Residents harvest and consume the food grown and regular donations of extra produce are made to non-profits such as the Food Bank for Larimer County and The Family Center/La Familia.
Purpose
Urban Foods Outreach (UFO) educates people on how to grow sustainable food and shares this knowledge and fresh produce to the community and those in need. The result is safe accessible food for all and an empowered community that can provide for themselves.
Stipends
In 2018, TGP started to provide stipends to pay residents in some of these neighborhoods to be the community leader of the garden. "Garden mentors" are responsible for a couple hours a week of garden maintenance, they help distribute produce to their neighbors, and they help engage other community members in garden activities.
The Growing Project works with Fort Collins Housing Catalyst, Habitat for Humanity, Fort Collins nonprofits and various mobile home parks on North College Avenue to install a number of gardens in low-income areas. With the assistance of our garden gurus and volunteers, UFO hosts and residents are educated and provided the tools they need for soil preparation, plant identification, watering needs, design and implementation, and the harvesting of the garden. Residents harvest and consume the food grown and regular donations of extra produce are made to non-profits such as the Food Bank for Larimer County and The Family Center/La Familia.
Purpose
Urban Foods Outreach (UFO) educates people on how to grow sustainable food and shares this knowledge and fresh produce to the community and those in need. The result is safe accessible food for all and an empowered community that can provide for themselves.
Stipends
In 2018, TGP started to provide stipends to pay residents in some of these neighborhoods to be the community leader of the garden. "Garden mentors" are responsible for a couple hours a week of garden maintenance, they help distribute produce to their neighbors, and they help engage other community members in garden activities.
Keywords: Seed Saving, Seed Swap, Food Justice, Social Justice, Urban Agriculture, Anti-Oppression Work, Community Gardening, Environmental Justice, Permaculture, Food Preservation, Foraging, Urban Foraging, Nutrition, Composting, Volunteer, Farmers Market, Youth Gardening, Organic Vegetables, Organic Flowers, Farm-to-School, Farm-to-Fork, Rainwater Catchment, Natural Building, Community Supported Agriculture Colorado, Local Food, Local Farms, Food Not Lawns