The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) and American Public Gardens Association have partnered to support public gardens and their community partners engaging in urban agriculture and food growing to address food security challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, the USBG and the Association awarded over $400,000 to 21 public garden partnerships across the United States that will foster public engagement and education in urban food growing and build capacity in urban agriculture programs.
The Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek, the nonprofit partner of the Gardens on Spring Creek, a City of Fort Collins cultural services facility, is one of the recipient gardens. The Gardens on Spring Creek grows up to 7,000 pounds of food annually for the Food Bank for Larimer County through its Garden of Eatin’ and manages eight community garden locations – including more than 150 plots – throughout the Fort Collins community.
The Gardens offers adult education classes on growing fruits and vegetables and preserving the harvest, many of which are now being offered virtually. Additionally, The Gardens serves as a collection site for Plant It Forward, a partnership with the Food Bank for Larimer County which invites local gardeners to plant an extra row and donate produce to support low-income, youth, senior and other vulnerable populations served by the Food Bank for Larimer County.
“We are excited to build on the success of last year’s Urban Agriculture Resilience Program and support innovative collaborations between public gardens and diverse partners in their communities,” said Saharah Moon Chapotin, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden.
The Urban Agriculture Resilience Program began in 2020 as a way for the USBG and the Association to help public gardens continue urban agriculture and food growing programs facing funding and capacity challenges due to COVID-19.