TACOMA, Aug. 8, 2011 -- Thanks to a generous grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Tacoma/Pierce County Community Gardens program is able to extend its reach and provide even more fresh produce to area food banks. Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) received a $100,000 grant from the Allen Family Foundation to support the expansion of the Tacoma/Pierce County Community Gardens program and Sharing the Harvest, a new program that will increase the amount of food supplied by community gardens to the Tacoma Area emergency food system.

“The Allen Family Foundation’s charitable gift allows us to build on the significant momentum around community gardens in the area and create an infrastructure for gardeners to donate to food banks as well as to build a strong network of dedicated food bank plots,” said Kristen McIvor, CLC’s Community Garden Manager.

Community gardening in the City of Tacoma and Pierce County has seen an explosion of growth in the past several years. Up from just eight gardens in 2008, there are now forty community gardens in the area with 10 more in the development process thanks to the program. Many of these community gardens already donate to the local emergency food system and in some cases already have dedicated food bank plots, but they lack the necessary financial support to reach their full potential.

CLC and its partners will now be able to provide the support and training necessary for the gardeners to reach their full potential and feed as many people as possible. In addition to physical garden expansions, the grant will support classes and workshops on food bank gardening and food preservation techniques.

The latest round of Allen Family Foundation grants focused on contributing to the health and vibrancy of cities and towns through the arts as well as programs dedicated to supporting low-income families.

“Each Foundation grant reflects our longstanding commitment to transform lives and strengthen communities in the Northwest,” said Susan M. Coliton, vice president of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Cascade Land Conservancy will put the grant to use immediately by creating a new position to help facilitate the expansion of the Community Gardens’ food sharing efforts. The new hire will devote their time to food justice and food access, as well as explore innovative ways to share the harvested bounties.

Community gardening and food justice are two of the many core concepts of CLC’s Cascade Agenda, a 100-year vision and immediate action plan for the region that balances environmental, social and economic needs. Community gardens help provide the good food necessary for healthy, sustainable urban living. And when people live in dense, sustainability urban communities, our great natural and working lands are spared from sprawling development.

The community gardens are a collaborative project between Cascade Land Conservancy, the City of Tacoma, the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department and Pierce Conservation District. Sharing the Harvest builds on the partnership between those groups and St. Leo’s Food Connection, the Emergency Food Network and the Pierce County Gleaning Project.


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About the Cascade Land Conservancy: Cascade Land Conservancy fills a unique and important niche as the largest conservation and community building organization dedicated solely to this region.  As a national leader, CLC is shaping a future that will flourish environmentally and economically.  We partner with thousands of leaders and residents across the region to create healthy, livable and prosperous communities.  For over 20 years, CLC has led efforts to conserve more than 173,000 acres of forests, farms, shorelines, parks and natural areas and restore critical landscapes.