The goal of Growing Together Community Gardens is to create sustainable gardens in the community to address food insecurity by reaching out into the community, cultivating members, mentors, and leaders who will uphold the core values of Growing Together with integrity and respect, honesty toward individuals, the community, and the earth.
In 2005, Nola Storm was the English language learner social worker for Fargo Public Schools and Adult Learning Center. As an English language instructor and family literacy home visitor, Nola got to meet and visit many of the New American families in the area, hear their stories and learn about the difficulties leaving home and finding their way in their new community. As a member of Olivet Lutheran Church, Nola asked her pastors if the church could do anything to help. They had a meeting and discussed the possibility of starting a garden project. Jack Wood’s name and love of gardening came up. He and Nola met and got permission to ask the New American families if they were interested, and everyone excitedly said yes! We started in the spring of 2006 with eight New American families and a handful of other Olivet members.
Each year we have expanded, adding more families and community partnerships. Jack’s dedication, enthusiasm and community connections and Nola’s relationships with Lutheran Social Services and New Americans have helped us add locations and people around the F-M area. We have been blessed that when property is no longer available to us, other churches, businesses and organizations open up space and allow us to use their land for new gardens.
The garden was born to help New Americans to feel more at home in their new community. It has evolved into a place where anyone can join as long as they are willing to work alongside their new friends for two hours a week, and you get vegetables!
The Growing Together Community Gardens are unique because they consist of members all working together once a week for two hours to nurture a successful garden. At harvest, the produce is divided equally among the full-share members who have worked at least 20 hours at that location.
Through methods that we have developed over the years, such as wide-row gardening, raised beds, succession planting, plant spacing, companion planting and other techniques, our gardens are very productive. In 2019, the yields from our gardens, which then measured 2.14 acres, totaled 65,000 pounds. This was shared with our members, plus 8,000 pounds were given to local food banks.
In 2005, Nola Storm was the English language learner social worker for Fargo Public Schools and Adult Learning Center. As an English language instructor and family literacy home visitor, Nola got to meet and visit many of the New American families in the area, hear their stories and learn about the difficulties leaving home and finding their way in their new community. As a member of Olivet Lutheran Church, Nola asked her pastors if the church could do anything to help. They had a meeting and discussed the possibility of starting a garden project. Jack Wood’s name and love of gardening came up. He and Nola met and got permission to ask the New American families if they were interested, and everyone excitedly said yes! We started in the spring of 2006 with eight New American families and a handful of other Olivet members.
Each year we have expanded, adding more families and community partnerships. Jack’s dedication, enthusiasm and community connections and Nola’s relationships with Lutheran Social Services and New Americans have helped us add locations and people around the F-M area. We have been blessed that when property is no longer available to us, other churches, businesses and organizations open up space and allow us to use their land for new gardens.
The garden was born to help New Americans to feel more at home in their new community. It has evolved into a place where anyone can join as long as they are willing to work alongside their new friends for two hours a week, and you get vegetables!
The Growing Together Community Gardens are unique because they consist of members all working together once a week for two hours to nurture a successful garden. At harvest, the produce is divided equally among the full-share members who have worked at least 20 hours at that location.
Through methods that we have developed over the years, such as wide-row gardening, raised beds, succession planting, plant spacing, companion planting and other techniques, our gardens are very productive. In 2019, the yields from our gardens, which then measured 2.14 acres, totaled 65,000 pounds. This was shared with our members, plus 8,000 pounds were given to local food banks.
Current Board Members
Jack Wood: Growing Together Co-Founder 2005, Past President 2019-2022, and Board Member 2023-2025
Anita Hofsommer: Past Treasurer 2019-2022, and Board Member 2023-2025
Kathleen Johnson: Youth Director and Board Member 2019-2025
David Merz: Board Member 2020-2022, and President 2023-2025
Julie Garden-Robinson: Board Member 2021-2024
Carol Krabbenhoft: Secretary 2023-2025
Bob Splichal: Vice President 2023-2025
Marty Riske: Treasurer 2023-2025
Eric Hegg: Board Member 2023-2025
Anita Hofsommer: Past Treasurer 2019-2022, and Board Member 2023-2025
Kathleen Johnson: Youth Director and Board Member 2019-2025
David Merz: Board Member 2020-2022, and President 2023-2025
Julie Garden-Robinson: Board Member 2021-2024
Carol Krabbenhoft: Secretary 2023-2025
Bob Splichal: Vice President 2023-2025
Marty Riske: Treasurer 2023-2025
Eric Hegg: Board Member 2023-2025
Leadership
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Non-Profit work
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Our efforts are only possible with the help of wise leadership. Growing Together is lead by nine Board Members who make decisions about the future and direction of our program. There are also about 30 Garden Leaders who supervise teams at our gardens. We also employ 3-5 interns annually who learn about sustainable agriculture while developing as leaders.
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In 2019, Growing Together became a formalized 501(c)3 non-profit in the state of North Dakota. This has helped us expand our impact through collecting donations, partnering with local businesses, and applying for grants. Would you consider supporting Growing Together with your donations?
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Our Other Projects
PAID InternsHIPSEach year, Growing Together hires 3-5 Program Assistants who grow their leadership and gardening skills at our gardens. Do you know someone who would be a good fit for this program? Send them our way!
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Family GardenWe think everyone should learn to grow food and that includes our kids! We have a special family garden where kids and parents can learn about growing food together! They meet on Tuesdays, 5-7 PM at 3600 25th St S. in Fargo.
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food pantry PartnershipsOur gardens produce thousands of pounds of food each year, much more than we can eat! Our goal is to share with other organizations that help feed the community. In 2022, we sent 5,470 lbs. of food to places like Dorothy Day, Jasmine Childcare, FM Emergency Food Pantry, Fargo/Cass Public Health, Valley Senior Services, and more.
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