Growing Matters Garden Program

The Growing Matters Garden program provides hands-on learning opportunities for local youth and the larger community at our urban gardens.

Students put their hands in the soil and understand where their food comes from, how great it tastes right from the garden, and why growing organic is so important.

The Growing Matters Garden program currently has two garden sites. Our main site offers 6,000 square feet of growing space just north of downtown Kalamazoo. Our second location is the Roots of Knowledge garden at Woodward Elementary School.

At both sites, we focus on growing vegetables (using sustainable, organic practices), but we also have areas for herbs, strawberries, and annual and native flowers.

A portion of the produce from our gardens is sold at the People's Food Co-op 100-mile Farmer's Market and at the Douglass Farmers' Market. For more information about purchasing our produce, please click here.

Community Volunteer Nights at the Growing Matters Garden in 2012

Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out last summer at both of our gardens. Over 850 hours of work were donated by community members in 2011. With your continued help, we can sustain and build our program in the years to come!

We are gathering again this year on Wednesday evenings starting on May 2nd and continuing through September. Meet us at the main garden site, 2119 N. Westnedge Avenue, between 6:30 and 8pm.

Volunteer nights are and open to all - feel free to bring children, friends, loved ones, and neighbors! If you are a master gardener, attending the volunteer night is a great way to earn your hours.