ACCESS Food Share Gardens

Since their inception in 2010, ACCESS Food Share Gardens have contributed over 370,000 pounds of organically grown produce to the ACCESS network of 50 emergency and supplemental food pantries, meal sites and other distribution sites. Each garden is a community-driven effort: land and water is donated by garden hosts, and volunteers do all the planning, planting, maintenance, harvesting and distribution. Unlike typical community gardens, Food Share Gardens are set up like mini farms, and volunteers tend to the whole garden together. Food Share Gardens provide a sustainable source of fresh, nutrient-dense food to improve the diets of families and individuals suffering from food insecurity in Jackson County. They also serve to promote healthy active lifestyles among volunteers, who benefit from physical activity, social contact, garden and nutrition education, and the fresh produce they bring home for themselves and their families.