As warmer days draw us outdoors, gardens across our community begin to come alive. Whether you’re planting your first seeds or tending a well-loved plot, gardening offers something for everyone. It brings fresh air and movement, supports both physical and mental well-being, and provides the simple joy of growing your own food. It’s an activity that connects generations – and now, it can also help nourish neighbors in need.
Through Neighbors Nourishing Communities (NNC), local gardeners are turning their passion into purpose. This Tualatin-based nonprofit, now in its 13th year, invites gardeners of all experience levels to take part in a meaningful mission: grow food, and share it. Participants receive seeds, plant starts, and guidance, and in return, they pledge to donate 20% of their harvest to the Tualatin Food Pantry. The remaining 80% – along with the pride and satisfaction of a thriving garden – is theirs to enjoy.
At a time when rising costs are putting increased strain on local families, access to fresh, nutritious food can be difficult. While fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet, they are often more expensive than processed alternatives, making them out of reach for some. That’s where community gardeners can make a real difference.
Many gardeners are already accustomed to sharing their bounty with friends and neighbors. By extending that generosity to families experiencing food insecurity, they help ensure that more people in our community have access to wholesome, fresh produce.
This season, your garden can do more than grow – it can give.
One inspiring example comes from Girl Scout Troop 10487 of Little Woodrose Nature Park, led by Eileen Brandt and co-leader Bethany. The troop adopted a portion of the community garden at Byrom Elementary School, where they worked together to plant, tend, and harvest their crops. Through their efforts, they donated 50 pounds of fresh produce to the Tualatin Food Pantry – while also bringing home plenty of nutritious food to share with their own families.
Their dedication is a wonderful reminder of what can grow when community and purpose come together. Congratulations to these young gardeners on a job well done, and thank you for making a difference.
They are part of a larger network of Neighbors Nourishing Communities gardeners who not only grow food for their own households, but also give back in meaningful ways. Together, NNC participants donated more than 1,500 pounds of fresh produce to the Tualatin Food Pantry last year, and over 30,000 pounds since our inception, helping ensure that more families in our community have access to healthy, nourishing food.
What does it mean to garden with Neighbors Nourishing Communities? Simply put, it’s about growing what you can – where you can – and sharing a portion with others. You don’t need a large plot of land or years of experience to get started. As the Girl Scouts of Troop 10487 demonstrated, even beginning gardeners can make a meaningful impact.
Participants provide their own garden space, whether it’s a backyard bed, a community garden plot, or even a few containers at home or work. With a bit of water, care, and attention, those spaces can produce an abundance of fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables – food that is as delicious as it is nourishing. Throughout the growing season, gardeners can donate their harvest to the Tualatin Food Pantry or drop it off at one of several convenient locations around Tualatin.
Getting involved is easy. Interested gardeners can sign up at nncoregon.org. Once registered, participants will receive details about our annual free plant and seed handout scheduled for Saturday, May 2, along with ongoing tips, resources, and support to help their gardens thrive all season long.
For questions or more information, please contact Peggy Fisher (503) 807-9090, or email neighborsnctualatin@gmail.com.
