Local Food Hubs - Low Cost seeds and seedlings!!

The snow is melted and the soil is ready… it’s gardening season once again! Registration is still open for Twin Cities residents who are interested in joining their local Hub, or neighborhood gardening network, where they can connect with other gardeners and get access to low-cost seeds and plants. The Local Food Resource Hubs will hold a Saint Paul seed and seedling distribution event on Saturday, May 18. The Saint Paul Hubs - THE EASTSIDE, Midway, and West 7th/Westside will hold their distribution from 9:30am-12:30pm at Gordon Parks High School (1212 University Ave W) (Griggs and University).

The Hubs are designed to provide household gardeners and community gardeners the tools and education they need to grow, preserve, cook and compost their own fresh produce by offering supplies, classes and connections. Hubs benefit neighborhoods by increasing community connectedness and increasing access to healthy food. Four Hubs have been established in Minneapolis: Northside, Southside, Phillips/Ventura Village, and Northeast/Southeast, and three Hubs will be active in St. Paul this year: Midway, East Side, and West 7^th/West Side.

Residents can join a Local Food Resource Hub and select one of three garden packages. Prices vary by size and scholarships are available. Memberships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To reserve a membership spot, residents can contact Gardening Matters at 612-821-2358, register at a seedling distribution on May 18, download the membership form (in English, Spanish, Hmong or Somali), or sign up online at www.gardeningmatters.org/hubs.

  

This is the third year of the Local Food Resource Hubs program. Last year the Local Food Resource Hubs Network included 600 members, distributed more than 14,000 packets of seeds and 15,000 seedlings, and measurably expanded residents’ food growing skills through classes and trainings. 

The Hubs are supported in part by the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support through the Statewide Health Improvement Program, Homegrown Minneapolis, Afro-Eco, CAPI, Waite House, the Northside Fresh Coalition, Ventura Village, Northeast Park, Colombia Park, Corcoran, and Powderhorn Park neighborhood associations, Southeast Como Neighborhood Improvement Association, Little Kitchen Foodshelf, East Side Food Co-op, Hamline-Midway Coalition, East Side Prosperity Campaign, Healthy West 7th Coalition, Growing the West Side, and many neighborhood partners.