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, last year we saw great growth within our organization. A new team of volunteers in the Chimacum and Port Hadlock area have worked hard to revitalized a piece of the Swan Farm Pea Patch – that, combined with a hoop house behind the Farms Reach Cafe are now contributing to the Tri-Area Food Bank in Port Hadlock. Our Port Townsend area gardens continue to bring thousands of pounds of fresh, local produce the Port Townsend Food Bank.

More than one generous donor has offered up their personal land for us to farm for the Food Bank. In fact, we have received more offers than we are able to take on at this time! In the Woodland Hills neighborhood we have partnered with the local Kiwanis club to build a 4,000 square foot garden that will begin production in the summer of 2018. Because of the overwhelming offers we have received we  are actively looking for more volunteer coordinators. Not only do we need experienced and organized garden coordinators, we want to get more people involved in this fantastic project! Volunteers are welcome to learn and grow with us – even an hour of your time will translate into making new friends, fun in the garden and more produce for the Food Bank and local high school! 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.

History of the Gardens:

The original food bank garden, located at the Port Townsend Mountain View Commons started in the spring of 2012 and was assisted by a grant from the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation and a generous donation from the Jefferson County Food Bank Association to construct a hoop house for tomato production.

We harvested and delivered 800 lbs of fresh produce in 2012, and over 3,000 lbs in 2013!  We labeled 2014 “The Year to Grow Your Own Food” and surpassed our previous success by operating more efficiently from three locations; Mountain View Food Bank Garden, High School Food Bank Garden and the Quimper Grange Food Bank Garden.

As we surpassed the five year mark of this organization’s history in 2017, we have donated over 20,000lbs of produce to the people of Jefferson County.