Portland Organization Advocates by Addressing Food Insecurity

Growing Gardens is an organization with branches in Portland and Boulder that seeks to address social inequities by improving access to healthy, necessary foods. The organization accomplishes this by building raised bed gardens in low income communities, hosting after school programs and community events, advocating food literacy, and more. Their mission statement reads: "Growing Gardens uses the experience of growing food in schools, backyards and correctional facilities to cultivate healthy, equitable, communities."

Growing Gardens-Portland primarily serves low-income communities who have compromised access to affordable and healthy foods. They serve these communities by building raised bed gardens, teaching families how to maintain them, and providing information regarding food literacy. Food literacy comprises information regarding how to grow food, as well as information regarding healthy food choices, food deserts, food in community, cooking and much more. Growing Gardens has identified food access and food literacy as one way that low-income communities are marginalized, and perform this service in order to combat that marginalization and advocate for marginalized groups as a whole.

Amidst an increasingly hostile political climate, leadership in Growing Gardens has proclaimed the organization as staunchly "anti-racism". While this is a stance that many can endorse, the organization has said that the stance has miffed a few donors of the organization. The organization feels that this branding is important, to fully represent their interest in serving marginalized communities in a tense political setting. 

Growing Gardens actively seeks addition help, both on volunteering and internship levels. Those that are interested can find additional information at https://www.growing-gardens.org/. Another way to support the organization is by following and sharing posts on Growing Gardens Instagram page where they share event information, organizational triumphs, and more.