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
Annual Report
2025 annual report
Growing Together Community Gardens
Since 2006, Growing Together Community Gardens has provided a place for community to come together and give back to the community throughout our 10 urban gardens.
Celebrating the Gardens
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We don't just grow produce, we cultivate relationships, knowledge, and combat local food insecurity.
jack wood
Executive Director
Growing Together Community Gardens
I still remember the night that Olivet Church President Thomas Lorentzen called me at 9:30 on a weekday night. He was excited about a meeting that he had attended at Lewis and Clark with Church Pastor Jeff Sangren, School principal Tricia Ericson, and School Liaison Nola Storm. They were discussing the African new Americans arriving in our community (many widows with
their young children). An idea to start a garden at the Good News Church was discussed. Our first garden was a 100 foot x 100 foot plot. It had eight 20x20 plots. One for each of the new American Families and the balance was a shared garden which we worked together. One of the issues that we experienced is when the gardeners at one the assigned plots was gone on vacation the plot was neglected. The shared plot was always taken care of since it was communal.
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What started as one garden helping 8 new American families has now grown into 10 gardens with over 300 Team members attending each year. We have also developed organizations within Growing Together. Some address food insecurity in our community. Feeding Fargo Moorhead and New Life Center
while others address the passions of our Team Members. Tomato Seed Savers Club and Flower Herb Collective. Also with 10 gardens we have developed Special Ops groups, Build with Bob, BCS group which visits gardens in need.
Bob Splichal
President
Growing Together Community Gardens
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Vestibulum laoreet faucibus lacinia. Vivamus non nulla odio. Nulla a odio viverra, rhoncus erat sit amet, mollis est. Sed lacinia tempor maximus. Etiam sit amet magna pellentesque, imperdiet magna id, hendrerit nibh. Nam ligula ipsum, accumsan in dui ut, porttitor dictum odio.
Connecting People to Food and Friends
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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.
2025: Our Year in Review
2025 was a profoundly impactful year for Growing Together Community Gardens. Below are just a few of the things we had the opportunity to do.
Served Members Through Weekly CSA Boxes
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Engaged Our Community
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Provided Employment for our Program Assistants
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Welcomed Volunteers
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Widened Our Food Distribution
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Expanded U-Pick Produce
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Celebrated the Harvest
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Launched Oat & Berry Breakfasts
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Our 2025 Impact by the Numbers
50,452
Pounds of food harvested
at our 10 gardens
10,235
Pounds donated to local food pantries
$132,820
Value of produce grown
12,950
Volunteer hours
259
Full share garden members
volunteering weekly
100%
Natural, organic, and chemical-free growing practices
10
Urban community gardens
12
Local food pantries receiving fresh produce
10
Partnerships with local businesses and organizations
Member Spotlight
karen's Story
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Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam lorem lectus, pharetra sed ultricies sit amet, dapibus vel lacus. Fusce venenatis rutrum porttitor. Pellentesque scelerisque, enim a bibendum pulvinar, neque massa ornare lorem, id lacinia ex magna vitae nisi. Suspendisse ornare pulvinar ultricies. In tincidunt tellus vel hendrerit dictum. Ut fringilla eleifend eros id accumsan. Fusce fringilla pellentesque orci.
Suspendisse cursus molestie blandit. Nam ut ligula eu ipsum congue ultrices quis at tellus. Sed non fringilla leo. Maecenas maximus, arcu vitae dapibus tincidunt, odio neque sollicitudin risus, a mattis lacus quam posuere lacus. Nam molestie sit amet enim nec egestas. Proin egestas ac massa ac porttitor. Aliquam hendrerit ex sed rutrum imperdiet. Curabitur nec quam sodales erat laoreet posuere at vitae est. Praesent lobortis lorem ut tortor dictum ornare.
Pellentesque et vestibulum justo, mattis convallis nunc. Nunc sit amet velit nunc. Proin vitae nibh eget lacus mattis elementum. Sed hendrerit velit nulla, et dictum sem consequat quis. Praesent a tempor purus. Donec pretium pretium nisi ac fermentum. Phasellus elementum urna ex.
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– Karen, Garden Member
2025 Financials
Expenses
Revenue
Programming: 85%
Private & Business donations: 41%
Administrative: 15%
Produce: 23%
Grants: 20%
events: 10%
Other: 6%
A Letter from the Executive Director & President
Dear Growing Together Members & Supporters,
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It’s been another year of Growth at Growing Together Community Gardens, and we’ve got the dirt under our fingernails to prove it. From the soil to the dinner table, here is what we accomplished together this season.
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2025 by the Numbers: We didn’t just grow vegetables, we grew a massive amount of hope for our community.
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66,420 lbs of fresh produce grown across 10 urban gardens.
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$132,820 total value of the food produced.
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9,218 lbs donated directly to local food pantries to fight hunger.
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259 volunteers joined us weekly, totaling 12,950 hours of hard work.
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100% natural: Everything we grow remains organic and chemical-free.
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The highlight of our year was the new partnership with the Concordia garden. We’ve been hard at work restoring the land and utilizing their high tunnel to extend the season. Most importantly, this expansion brought in a brand-new group of members, breathing fresh life and energy into our mission.
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Our partnership with the New Life Center reminded us why we do this. They are seeing an 11% increase in need, serving over 167,000 neighbors this year. Many are hardworking families and seniors struggling with the rising cost of living. The Fargo-Moorhead food banks distributed 14.8 million pounds of food in 2025, but as their Director noted, "people who are 'well-off' are still struggling to make ends meet." By growing our own organic produce, we aren't just providing calories; we’re providing dignity and health to neighbors who need a win.
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Whether through our new plots at Concordia or our ongoing partnership with the New Life Center, we are committed to a future where no one in our community goes hungry. Thanks for standing in the trenches with us. Together, we’re growing a stronger, healthier community, one seed at a time.
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Together, we can build community and support our neighbors,
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Sincerely,
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Jack Wood, Executive Director
Bob Splichal, President
jack wood
Executive Director
Growing Together Community Gardens
Bob Splichal
President
Growing Together Community Gardens
