After a colder and wetter spring than normal, backyard gardeners across Colorado are planting, tending, and preparing to harvest for the second season of Grow & Give, a program whose volunteers raise and donate fresh fruits and vegetables for statewide distribution to people in need.

Grow & Give is a project of the Colorado Master Gardener Program, a well-known part of CSU Extension. Volunteer participation is open to any Colorado gardener.

The project sprouted in Spring 2020 in response to skyrocketing food needs among people coping with unemployment and other hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project is modeled on backyard victory gardens that boosted food supplies and morale during the bleak years of World War I and World War II.

It was so successful in its first season that Grow & Give is back, with a broader goal of boosting food security in Colorado communities over the long term, said Katie Dunker, statewide coordinator for the Colorado Master Gardener Program, who helps lead Grow & Give.

“This is where CSU Extension can make such a big difference connecting people to solve real needs in their communities,” Dunker said. “It took a pandemic for us to see all this capacity, but we’re going to continue this work. It hits all the marks for a land-grant university.”

Last year, nearly 600 volunteer gardeners signed up. They grew and donated more than 47,000 pounds of produce in 25 Colorado counties.

The fresh fruits and vegetables went to food banks, pantries, homeless shelters, and other nonprofits for distribution to individuals and families facing hunger and food shortages.

Organizers expect the number of participants and food donations to expand in the second year of Grow & Give.

To support backyard gardeners, the Colorado Master Gardener Program has a few new offerings, including:

For more information, gardening resources, and to volunteer with Grow & Give, visit growandgivecolorado.org.

Source: Colorado State University Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.