Why We Do It

As the momentum builds around this program many people are asking us about the details and what we're hoping to do. "That's awesome!" is a common response we keep hearing from our friends and family and we're so glad to hear the excitement. Many of them think that this is a environmental justice thing and it is. We'll be working in communities that have historically been degraded through industrial pollution and general mistreatment and giving them the potential to grow healthy food over top of the questionable soil. Others think that our focus is food justice and that is absolutely a priority of our's. We want to bring all people regardless of income, race, education or whatever together to build a cohesive food movement that can addresses the disparities of the food system. Yet again, it's more than that. Some believe it's about people eating more fresh, healthy, local food and equipping them with the tools they'll need to produce, prepare and preserve it, which of course it is. The most important factor though which we want to see come out of this program is the community building. Gardens and food have so much potential to bring neighbors together in front yards, kitchens, and parks interacting with one another for maybe the first time ever. The true power of We Can Grow comes in growing the networks between members of our communities and growing their individual and combined abilities to determine their place in the food system. This is the way we hope to begin growing a just, equitable and healthy food system. Together, we can grow.