Growing Matters

Growing Matters is our innovative food production program helping more people grow food themselves and increasing the supply of local food by growing more, closer to home.

Growing Matters provides resources, education and support for partners and community members to create and care for food-production gardens. (Growing Matters does not simply install gardens!) Every Growing Matters project is connected with education, whether that's a workshop for neighborhood residents or an elementary school.

The program takes a holistic approach to growing food, working closely with a variety of small and large-scale models, from container gardening to urban farming. We also provide workshops and leadership training, because we believe successful garden projects require both gardening and community organizing skills. By building strong relationships and providing mutual support, individuals and communities are able to provide their own food supply, and to preserve and prepare delicious meals. 

Yard Gardens

Growing Matters provides support, resources and education for individuals and families in Weinland Park and on the Near East Side of Columbus to establish and maintain front- and back-yard gardens. In the summer of 2011, Growing Matters helped establish 67 new yard gardens in Weinland Park and held over 15 workshops in the neighborhood on a variety of topics. 

Hoover-Y Learning Garden

Growing Matters helps operate the Hoover Y Learning Garden, a one-acre learning garden / urban farm at the Hoover Y-Park in Lockbourne, Ohio. The Hoover-Y growing operation sent produce home with over 400 volunteers and 150 summer camp students, and also provided significant amounts of produce to The Greener Grocer and the Veggie Van.

Learning Gardens

Growing Matters works with Food Matters to install and/or provide technical support for learning gardens at schools and other educational facilities. These learning gardens allow children in Food Matters classes to experience hands-on the lessons that they learn inside the classroom.