We believe everyone deserves access to fresh and affordable produce. Through the cultivation of 10 community garden plots, we serve our members and local food pantries across the Fargo-Moorhead region.
About
Connecting People to Food & Friends
ABOUT
Our Story
Our Mission
Nourishing People & Cultivating Community
To connect people of all backgrounds with affordable, sustainably grown food and a strong sense of belonging through shared work and respect for the earth.
Our vision
Building the Next 20 Years Together
We envision a vibrant, multi-site network led by strong leaders that eliminates food insecurity in our region through shared labor, education, and neighborliness.
Our 2025 Impact By the Numbers
50,452
Pounds of food harvested
at our 10 gardens
10,235
Pounds donated to local food pantries
259
Full share garden members
volunteering weekly
meet the founder
Jack Wood, Director + Co-Founder
As founder and director, Jack Wood has helped lead a community garden initiative that began in 2005 with a vision to support newly resettled families in Fargo. Drawing on his passion for gardening and seed saving, Jack helped grow the program from a single garden into a network that now serves hundreds of families, providing fresh food, shared learning, and meaningful community connection.
Tedx Fargo
From Idea to an Impactful Nonprofit
What began as a single garden in 2006 has grown into a network of community gardens that support gardeners from many backgrounds. From shared plots to orchards and a high tunnel greenhouse, the impact has continued, helping people grow food and build community across all ten gardens in the Fargo–Moorhead area.
Meet the Board
Jack Wood
Director &
Co-Founder
Bob Splichal
President
Eric Hegg
Vice President
Georgia Dufault
Treasurer
Julie A Garden-Robinson
Board Member
Joan Kopperud
Board Member, Concordia Liaison
Karen Hintzman
Board Member
Wayne Grothmann
Secretary
2006
Where it All Began
Our first garden was started at the intersection of 17th Avenue South and 25th Street in Fargo, ND. With eight New American families and members of Olivet Lutheran Church.
2009
partnership with the Gathering Congregation
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) purchased the land where the first garden was located. The property was later sold to FM Housing, and leadership shared that a garden space would be included after the new location was built. That same year, the Gathering Congregation invited the group to garden at their south Fargo location, where African and Bhutanese families participated.
2011
First Fargo parks garden
The Community Home Garden was added, becoming the first garden located on Fargo Parks property. Volunteers were residents of Community Home, with many participants being New Americans from Nepal.
2012
partnership with lss
The Lutheran Social Services Garden was established. At 160 x 210 feet, it became the first large garden and was primarily attended by Bhutanese families from Nepal, many of whom spoke little or no English.
2014
partnership with the world commons project
The World Garden was added through a collaboration with artist Jackie Brookner and Fargo City Planner Nicole Crutchfield as part of the World Commons project at Rabanus Park next to Schlossman YMCA in Fargo.
2015
partnership with catalyst medical
Work continued with Dr. Mathison at Catalyst Medical, who had originally started a garden in 2008 to help address food insecurity. Additional garden space was later made available, leading to the creation of Catalyst East and Catalyst West.
2020
YMCA world orchard grant
The World Orchard was added after receiving a grant to plant fruit trees and berry rows at the World Garden. The orchard includes 20 fruit trees and more than 300 feet of berry plants.
2021
partnership with gethsemane cathedral
After several ownership changes at the Gathering Garden location, Gethsemane Cathedral invited the organization to garden in their green space. This space is now home to three gardens: Market, Grace, and Family.
2023
partnership with global refuge
The Welcome Garden was added through a grant in partnership with Global Refuge. This garden focuses on supporting New American families and creating a welcoming space for new gardeners.
2026
partnership with concordia university
The addition of the Concordia Garden and High Tunnel Greenhouse, following the closure of Concordia University’s sustainability program, brings the total to 10 gardens and creates the first Growing Together garden in Moorhead.
History of Growing Together
20 years & Counting
What excites you about the future of Growing Together?
Looking ahead
Growing Together is the heartbeat of the neighborhoods, where people stop by not just to harvest veggies, but to reconnect with one another. What excites me most is the ripple effect this can have on an entire city. It's that beautiful moment when purpose meets impact.
– Kim S.
From One Garden to a Network of Gardens
A story of welcoming new neighbors, sharing food, and growing together.
In 2005, a group of community leaders in Fargo, North Dakota gathered to find better ways to welcome New Americans into the community. At the time, about 5% of Fargo’s population consisted of recently resettled refugees, many from African countries and from Bhutan. After years in refugee camps, many arrived with limited English, which made connection and communication difficult. Out of this conversation came the idea to start a community garden.
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A local church president later reached out to Jack Wood to help bring the idea to life. Jack had spent the previous decade growing tomatoes and saving more than 50 heirloom varieties in his backyard. What began as a way to share a love of gardening quickly became something more, a way to build relationships, learn from different cultures, and support new neighbors.
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The first garden started with eight African families on a 100-by-100-foot plot that included individual plots and a shared garden area. Over time, the model evolved into fully shared gardens. What began as one small garden serving eight families grew into ten gardens serving more than 300 families. In 2025 alone, the gardens produced more than 66,000 pounds of food, shared among members and donated to local food pantries.
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As the organization grew, a Community Garden Toolkit was created that has helped launch more than 16 additional gardens in the region. During the winter months, the GTCG boards meets with interested organizations to plan new gardens and invites their leaders to join weekly meetings throughout the growing season. In 2016, Jack Wood shared this vision during a TEDx Fargo talk to more than 2,000 people, and the organization has also presented to community groups, North Dakota State University, and Concordia College. Many of the original gardeners are now U.S. citizens, homeowners, and active members of the community.
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Now, 20 years later, the organization continues to grow thanks to dedicated leaders, volunteers, and families, with a mission centered on growing food, connection, and opportunity for years to come.
What Our Members Have to Say
Sydney B.
"I’m most proud of how Growing Together has built genuine community connections over the past 20 years. It has created a welcoming space where people of all backgrounds—new Americans, long-time residents, families, and individuals—can come together to grow food, learn, and support one another."
Joan B.
"I'm proud of Nola and Jack for bringing their ideas to fruition. I'm proud of the growth that the program has had. I'm proud of Jack for his dedication to the program, his networking to grow the gardens and donors, and his tireless dedication to GTCG."
Eric H.
"I would love growing together to reach a point where they have full time staff and even paid garden leaders. This would expand capacity and allow more gardens to be created in surrounding municipalities like Moorhead, West Fargo, Horace, and more. "
