THE GARDEN
ABOUT THE GARDEN
The Garden is an urban farm that serves as a community classroom to teach gardening basics and nutrition education. Utilizing strategic ecosystems, the Garden maximizes the use of each resource, providing a practical and sustainable model for individual gardeners to follow. The Garden focuses on community outreach– equipping students, apartment residents, and homeowners alike with the training needed to grow fresh, healthy food on a budget.
Since August 2009, the Garden project has served as a full production, all-organic urban farm, and the cornerstone of our Nutrition Education Program. Our one-acre site produces various fresh produce, including watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, beans, and many herbs and flowers. Now, we are growing more variety than ever, with a focus on heirloom plants.
PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY
Have your own Garden? Please consider “Plant a Row for the Hungry,” a national campaign initiated by the Garden Writers Association that encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row to donate to those in need. For more information, please get in touch with Cara (cara@hpfb.org).
Education
Gardening in the Texas Panhandle can be a difficult task. For budding gardeners seeking guidance, we offer on-site training year round which coincides with current projects in the Garden. Please contact Cara (cara@hpfb.org) for more information.
PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY
Have your own Garden? Please consider “Plant a Row for the Hungry,” a national campaign initiated by the Garden Writers Association that encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row to donate to those in need. For more information, please get in touch with Cara (cara@hpfb.org).
Education
Gardening in the Texas Panhandle can be a difficult task. For budding gardeners seeking guidance, we offer on-site training year round which coincides with current projects in the Garden. Please contact Cara (cara@hpfb.org) for more information.
PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY
Have your own Garden? Please consider “Plant a Row for the Hungry,” a national campaign initiated by the Garden Writers Association that encourages home gardeners to plant an extra row to donate to those in need. For more information, please get in touch with Cara (cara@hpfb.org).
Our mission is to alleviate hunger in the texas panhandle.
Garden volunteers will perform a variety of tasks required to maintain the Garden and help it flourish: planting, harvesting, composting, pulling weeds, feeding animals, and hunting for pests. Expect to bend, get a little dirty, and soak up some sun. Please bring your own gloves if you have them, a bottle of water (we will provide the refills), and sunscreen. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear closed-toed shoes.
This is a family-friendly environment, and all ages are welcome! Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
ABOUT MOBILE HARVEST
In 2018, the Garden launched its Mobile Harvest Program, which provides fresh produce to high need areas of our community. In addition, the Garden continued to support multiple community garden sites to help provide healthy organic produce to area food deserts. The Garden at High Plains Food Bank is offering a drive-through produce distribution, based on availability at 3 weekly sites:
Monday – Heal the City, located in the Generation Next parking lot at 6th and Tennessee, beginning at 11:30AM
Wednesday – ACTS Community, located at 202 S Louisiana, beginning at 11:30AM
Thursday – New Hope Baptist Church, located at 1305 NW 9th Ave., beginning at 11:30AM
Mobile Harvest Important Information
Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Saturdays available upon request
Have a big group? We love big groups! Businesses, churches, and other organizations are welcome to schedule a time to volunteer in the Garden and give back to our community.
All volunteers must be scheduled and confirmed by staff in advance.
Volunteer
Volunteers are critical to our mission. With multiple ways to serve, the perfect spot on our team is waiting for you.
Donate
Every dollar given to the High Plains Food Bank makes it possible to continue in the fight to end hunger.
Host
Hosting a food or fund drive is a chance for businesses, schools, churches, and clubs to work together for our community.
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION
VOLUNTEER
Garden volunteers will perform a variety of tasks required to maintain the Garden and help it flourish: planting, harvesting, composting, pulling weeds, feeding animals, and hunting for pests. Expect to bend, get a little dirty, and soak up some sun. Please bring your own gloves if you have them, a bottle of water (we will provide the refills), and sunscreen. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and wear closed-toed shoes.
This is a family-friendly environment, and all ages are welcome! Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
VOLUNTEER
Our regular times for volunteers to work in the Garden are Tuesday and Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. We also offer opportunities on some Saturdays. Volunteering in the Garden must be scheduled and confirmed with staff ahead of time.
Please be aware that most of our volunteer work is done outside, weather permitting. Please wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and closed-toe shoes. Also, given the nature of the work, expect to get at least a little dirty.
The Garden is a family-friendly environment, and we accept volunteers of all ages. Anyone age 13 or under must be accompanied by an adult.
RESOURCES
Gardening in the Texas Panhandle can be a difficult task. For budding gardeners seeking guidance, we offer on-site training year-round, which coincides with current projects in the Garden. Please contact Cara for more information.
Are you interested in starting your own Garden? The Garden at High Plains Food Bank is a teaching and learning environment which allows us to use our experiences (good and bad!) to help others. Be sure to browse the documents, websites, and publications listed below for information for gardening in the Panhandle. Each year we host a series of workshops on various topics relevant to first-time and experienced gardeners. Click here to view the current schedule and RSVP.
Websites
Suggested Reading
Bubel, Nancy. The New Starter’s Handbook. Rodale, 1988.
Jeavons, John. How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Could Imagine. 7th ed. Ten Speed, 2006.
Lowenfels, Jeff, and Wayne Lewis. Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web. Timber, 2010.
Munich, Jerry. The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener. 3rd ed. Rodale, 1992.