Has anyone heard of this? A coworker of mine did some research on this fantastic organization in Thurston county called GRuB (Garden-Raised Beds). Aimed to empower people and grow good food, GRuB helps low income families and seniors to become self sufficient by building raised garden beds at their homes! They also run youth programs for underprivileged kids, or kids with learning and behavioral disabilities. Each summer, GRuB hires 20 low income youth to work on their three acre farm enabling them to learn life skills, engage in their community and become leaders for positive social change. Throughout the year, school and community groups visit the GRuB farm to engage in activities that help them connect to their local food system.
A good friend of my coworkers told her about her experience with this program saying that professional, polite people came to her house and helped her get a garden started in her yard. She indicated that not only did she reap the rewards of fresh vegetables but the satisfaction of knowing she contributed to a program that is helping the less fortunate in her community. Another important point she made is that if more people had gardens we would not be so dependant on having vegetables and fruits shipped to us in packaging, thus reducing energy/fuel usage and waste.
This program could serve as an example for other communities to utilize the opportunity to gain independence while serving and supporting the local community. GRuB is guided by their core values: caring youth and adult partnerships, strong communities, sustainable land stewardship, education, and good food for all people. For more information on this organization and its programs, click here.
I was just in Long discussion about this yesterday within the group Sustainable Tacoma-Pierce. We’re thinking of creating a non-profit that combines GRuB garden-installation with CSA-like maintain and harvest, for Tacoma. Some people may just want to grow their own, others may opt for the food-sharing and receive a box of produce each week from combined area gardens. Plus lots of ‘green jobs’ creation, and (in my ideal world) funds for employees to all get a Permaculture Design Course as part of their training. Anyway, if anyone would like to be involved with this creation, maybe contact Sol Riou sparkingwaves@hotmail.com.
Also, the sister group to GRuB in Olympia is Terra Commons (http://www.oly-wa.us/Terra/). GRuB usually installs raised beds/annual gardens. Terra Commons installs food forests. We’re thinking of doing either, depending on the client/site.
Oh yeah, we’re also curious how this may tie-in/ overlap with the Other meeting I didn’t make it to: the possible creation of a Tacoma Tilth. If any readers of this went to that meeting on Friday, and there is some overlap, maybe post about it here.
Comment # 1
Posted by Kelda Miller
Feb 10, 06:14 AM
The group associated with Environmental Priorities working with the Health Dept. coalition is also interesterd in joining with the WSU extension to start a non-profit Tilth organization in Pierce County.
Our goals are community/neighborhood gardens, school gardens, container gardens, education.
We need to meet with Sustainable Tacoma-Pierce to work together.
Who is the contact?
Comment # 2
Posted by Carmela Micheli
Feb 15, 10:54 AM
Hey folks – I work for GRuB and happen to get the “Growing Conversation” newsletter and was surprised to see Claire’s article this morning, thanks Claire! A tiny correction – GRuB actually stands for Garden-Raised Bounty. We often say to our supporters “Without U, we’d just be Grb!” We’re working hard at present to build our capacity to be a resource for other organizations hoping to start similar programs, so we realize the need is out there. Feel free to visit our website if you want more information about our work.
-Anna Robinson, Fundraising Coordinator
Comment # 3
Posted by Anna Robinson
Feb 20, 10:51 AM
When I was a student at Evergreen I inherited a GRuB garden – back when it was called Kitchen Garden Project. I then helped my neighbors get one. I’ve helped with seed sorting parties, as well.
GRuB helped me get started in organic gardening, and last year my husband and I built a raised bed garden using untreated wood and TAGRO. Its larger than the footprint of our house. We love it!
We have dreamed of replicating this program in Tacoma/Pierce County, and hope we can move that dream along into reality.
Thanks!
Comment # 4
Posted by Krystal Kyer
Feb 23, 01:43 PM
I live in Gig Harbor and would be very interested in participating in the formation of a Tacoma Tilth. I Googled Tacoma Tilth and came across your blog. Please let me know when the next meeting regarding formation takes place. thanks!
Comment # 5
Posted by Candace
Feb 27, 04:12 AM
Wow! Sorry I missed this blog earlier. Let me add my “two cents” to the discussion.
I stumbled upon the GRuB website back in mid-January when I was deciding to start a kitchen garden program in Tacoma. I was inspired to do this by Kitchen Gardeners International, the folks that proposed a White House garden as an OnDayOne proposal. (See “Eat the View” by Roger Doiron http://www.ondayone.org/node/661) Michael Pollan’s Open Letter to Obama suggesting a White House Farmer in Chief bumped that idea up a notch.
I spoke to David Domkowski at Tacoma Public Library about picking up the backyard gardens suggestion that had come up in the brainstorming session in Jan. for projects to do in conjunction with “Tacoma Reads Together” Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle”. No one had stepped up to do this so I told him I was bringing a group together to do it.
I also told him about GRuB and that they had an open house Feb. 5th that I was going to so I could get first-hand advice. Their site is great! They’ve built over 1300 raised-bed gardens in Olympia and surrounding Thurston and Mason Counties. At Tacoma Green Drinks that evening, I talked to some others about joining me in launching this type of program in Tacoma.
Last night, I went to a film showing in Lacey of a terrific new film, “Good Food”, which GRuB helped to sponsor. The Library has expressed interest in showing it here in Tacoma. Maybe we can show the movie and then have brief presentations from various groups in the Tacoma area that are helping the community move towards eating and growing our food locally and sustainably – our community gardens, CSAs, local farmers and programs helping residents build their own gardens.
With the increased awareness of food safety, the need to stretch our food budgets, and building a sense of community, the time is right for all these approaches. The more the merry since the need is great.
Comment # 6
Posted by Patricia Menzies
Feb 27, 07:58 PM
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