The Food Bank Gardens project and leadership team believe that everyone should have access to healthy, fresh food. We also believe in working together as a team.

Thanks to astounding community contributions and countless volunteer hours, 2019 and 2020 have seen tremendous growth within our organization. A new team of volunteers in the Chimacum and Port Hadlock area have worked hard to revitalize a piece of the Swan Farm Pea Patch – that, combined with a hoop house and beds behind the Farms Reach Cafe are now contributing to the Tri-Area Food Bank in Port Hadlock. In 2019, we added Goosefoot Gardens at Finnriver Orchard, a plot at Sunfield School, and March 2020, our newest partner: Raincoast Farm. You will be receiving posts about volunteer needs and work parties as well as photographs and updates from our new volunteer coordinator, Rachel Smith. Our Port Townsend area gardens continue to bring thousands of pounds of fresh, local produce the Port Townsend Food Bank.

Rachel has already proven to be a tremendous addition to our team of extraordinary volunteers.  We can always use experienced and organized folk to manage gardens. Our partners,  Master Gardeners, Growing Groceries, and the Seed Library at WSU have helped connect us with the latest information on regenerative agriculture, as well as how to use it. Our partnership with the Quimper Gleaners helps with the orchard at Blue Heron, as well as rescuing about 10,000 pounds of food annually, mostly from home gardens. The Freeze Dryer Pilot Project will save about 2000 pounds of produce from waste this year, and provide data to expand this resource exponentially. We want to get more people involved in fantastic projects to help feed the county!

Volunteers are welcome to learn and grow with us – even an hour of your time will translate into making new friends, fun–with appropriate social distancing–in the garden and more produce for the Food Banks and other groups that feed those in need! If you’re interested in learning more about the Food Bank Garden Project, any of the garden locations or would like to volunteer, please send an email to foodbankfarmandgardensjc@gmail.com.