Since we broke ground at Freetown Farm this spring, our community garden plot has grown into something worth celebrating. Volunteers have logged dozens of hours in the soil — planting, weeding, watering, harvesting — and together we’ve grown over 169 pounds of fresh produce that went straight into the hands of the families Columbia Community Care (CCC) serves.
Now we need your help writing the next chapter.
Growing Something This Size Takes Consistency
A garden doesn’t pause for anyone’s schedule. Weeds don’t wait for a free Saturday. Beds need to be put to rest for winter with the same care they were opened with in spring, and soil needs weeks of preparation before we can plant the seeds for next season.
Volunteers have carried this plot further than we imagined in year one, and we’re deeply grateful for every hour given. But producing 1,350 pounds of food a season needs something volunteers alone can’t always provide: someone there consistently, watching the beds, catching problems early, and keeping the rhythm of the garden steady week to week.
That’s why we’re launching a campaign to bring on a dedicated land steward — someone who can give the garden the day-to-day attention it needs to keep producing at its full potential, season after season.
Our Ask: $10,000 to Carry Us Through to Spring
We’re raising $10,000 to get us from now through next spring’s planting season. Here’s where it goes:
- A land steward to provide consistent, hands-on oversight of the garden between now and spring
- Winterizing the plot — cover crops, bed preparation, and protecting the soil through the cold months
- Tools and supplies to replace what’s worn out and equip us for the season ahead
- Seeds for next year’s planting, ordered and ready when the ground is
“This garden and the fresh food it provides is one more way that we can offer those who visit our food pantries an experience that feels like a hand-up instead of a hand-out,” said Erika Chavarria, executive director of CCC. “We want to ensure that the food we are distributing is fresh, healthy, and culturally appropriate. This garden helps support that, while supporting sustainability and celebrating the value of our land.”
We Still Need You in the Garden, Too
A land steward gives the garden consistency at the center. But this plot has always grown because a community showed up for it — and we still need your help.
We’re looking for volunteers who want to make the garden a regular part of their week, not just a one-time visit. If you have a few hours a week you’d like to spend outside, learning, and growing food for your neighbors, we’d love to have you as part of our ongoing garden crew.
If that’s you, visit the Community Ecology Institute volunteer page to find out how you can help — whether that’s a weekly shift in the garden, or another way to support this effort.
More Than Just Vegetables
CCC has always believed that access to food is a human right, and that how we provide that food matters just as much as what we provide. A garden is one of the clearest ways we can put that belief into practice. It’s food grown with intention, harvested at its peak, and given without barriers to the families who need it.
Helping this garden thrive through the winter and into next spring isn’t just about pounds of produce. It’s about building a place where our community can grow it together, year after year.
Support the Freetown Farm land steward campaign, or visit the Community Ecology Institute volunteer page to volunteer.
