Community Giving Garden

The Framingham Garden Club is pleased to announce its third annual Community Giving Garden (CGG) program at Framingham’s Earth Day Festival on April 26, 2025. This program was launched in 2023 to encourage Framingham residents to grow healthy vegetables and herbs at their homes and donate some to family, friends, neighbors, or local food pantries, to address food insecurity in the Metrowest Community. CGG has been a great success for the past two years, and we are happy to bring it back in 2025!

Thus far, 151 families/people have participated in CGG, each experiencing the joy and rewards of growing healthy produce in the manner that worked best for them and giving back to others. In the words of some of our participating families:

“It’s going so lovely! I’m learning a lot! The tomato seedling that you provided has been blossoming.”

“It has been a family affair, everyone has pitched in to water and keep an eye on new tomatoes, and making sure there were no bugs. It has been a great experience!”

Here is information about CGG 2025 and how you can get involved!

What: The Community Giving Garden 2025 will provide starter materials, tips, gardening advice, and education to encourage Framingham residents to grow healthy vegetables and herbs at their homes, in the manner that works best for them. Families can donate a portion of their harvest to families, friends, neighbors and local food pantries to help address food insecurity.

The Community Giving Garden will launch at the Framingham Earth Day Festival on April 26, 2025 at the Framingham Centre Common. We strongly suggest that you Register on-line in advance , and pick up your starter kit at Earth Day, because starter kit material will only be provided while supplies last.

Who: Residents of Framingham of all ages and gardening ability. Families are encouraged to apply. One registration per family, please!

How: There are five easy steps to the program:

• Register – Register online here and tell us some basic information about yourself and your family including what you would like to grow, your gardening experience, and the gardening topics that interest you.
• Get Ready – For the first families who register, we will provide a “starter kit” that includes a Root Pouch grow bag with gardening soil and a seedling, while supplies last.  All participants will also receive online gardening advice and information during the growing season through the CGG online information portal! Please plan to pick up your starter kit and meet Framingham Garden Club members at Earth Day in Framingham Centre on April 26, 2025 from 11 to 3.
• Dig In – Start your garden and refer to our website for updates throughout the growing season. We provide resources and information on gardening to help you as you grow!
• Harvest and Donate– As you harvest your vegetables and herbs, please enjoy your healthy food, and please donate some of your harvest to families, friends or neighbors that could use fresh produce, or one of the designated food pantries that are listed below.
• Keep Us Posted – Tell us about your gardening experience……we would love to learn what you are growing, how you are using your harvest, and what you have donated and where through our Harvest Update Form. Please share information and pictures with us on social media and our website!

The Framingham Garden Club’s Community Giving Garden team would like to express sincere gratitude for donations to our Community Giving Garden starter kits from the following vendors: Coast of Maine, Fran’s Flowers, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Rivers Edge, Root Pouch, and Stearns Farm. Many thanks for helping us to support members of our community as they grow vegetables and herbs and share with others. #Growing GoodProgram  #GrowingGoodWill”