Project name: Grow it Forward
County: Cass
Project Coordinator: Alan Zuk
Lead Organization: North Dakota State University Dept. of Plant Sciences
Address: Dept. 7670; P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Telephone: 701.231.7540Email:
Location of Garden: Nativity Church
- Briefly describe your garden project including its major goals. Please include a description of activities. (150 words or less)
The Grow It Forward program teaches NDSU students the value of public service as they assist me each spring in producing vegetable bedding plants for community gardens in Fargo and across Eastern North Dakota. In regards to this grant, I will focus on the community garden at Nativity Parish in Fargo. The Nativity garden is 5600 sq. ft. and planted with seedlings provided by our program. The gardeners involved at Nativity are not required to be members of the parish. They decide what to plant each year and the harvest is shared among all people involved in the project. Many of the activities such as watering, weeding, harvesting, and maintaining the raised beds involve adults and their children from age three to the late-teens.
- How will your project make a difference to itschildren? (150 words or less)
Many of the children involved in the Nativity garden are new Americans, primarily from Bhutan and East Africa. Their families came from agricultural-based societies that grew food for subsistence. Although their living conditions are far improved in the U.S., this project allows the families to pass their gardening skills onto their young children and to teach the value of self-reliance. The American children gain the same skills and are exposed to fun and enjoyable gardening activities before they develop a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits. The children also learn the value of diversity and teamwork at a young age.
- How will your project make a difference in your community? (150 words or less)
In addition to growing healthy produce, the people involved in Nativity community garden project develop new friendships through their weekly gardening activities and potluck dinners. This project provides an excellent opportunity for those involved to feel like they belong to a community. The children also learn the value of sharing as the excess produce is taken to various food pantries in Fargo.
- Please estimate the number of participants directly involved in the project:
Young children (3–12 years old): 14
Teens (13–17 years old): 6
Adults: 24
- Briefly list any partners (such as 4-H, FFA, school, church, garden center, parks department) that are involved.Briefly describe their roles in the project.Be very brief.
NDSU
I am a faculty member in the Dept. of Plant Sciences at NDSU. I have a close connection to the Grow It Forward program and consider myself a partner with the Nativity gardeners. Our Department Chair, Dr. Richard Horsley, mentioned to me that he is in full support of the Grow It Forward project.
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- Budget
Expenditures Amount
Potting soil $200
Peat pots 100
Plastic flats 100
Seeds 50
Flat liners 50
TOTAL $500