Vermont Community Garden Network

Address

1 Mill Street
Suite 200
Burlington, VT 05401
United States

The Vermont Community Garden Network is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to the growth and success of community and school gardens. Established in 2001, VCGN has helped start and sustain hundreds of gardens all over Vermont and has connected thousands of children, teens, and adults to fresh, healthy food and sustainable food production practices.

VCGN provides hands-on garden education for youth and adults in Burlington and training, technical assistance, resources, and networking opportunities for garden leaders across the state. Our work is rooted in the understanding that community and school gardens have food security, health, social, economic, and environmental benefits.

This work is closely tied to the larger statewide and regional discussions about how we feed ourselves. Garden education provides essential skills that people need to be active participants in the food system – to be producers, not just consumers. The results of growing food in community are impressive: neighbors develop friendships and support systems, children try (and like!) new foods, people of all ages gain new awareness of environmental issues, and neglected land is transformed into productive space that provides fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables.

The produce from community and school gardens goes directly onto family tables and school lunch trays. But the impact goes far beyond these fresh vegetables and fruit, which may represent just a percentage of the total food consumed. Learning about where food comes from and taking part in growing and sharing it fundamentally changes how youth and adults perceive – and value – food. This type of community-based food production positively influences lifestyle and purchasing decisions and can enhance appreciation for the environment, farmers and the greater food system.

Creating and growing strong garden communities – whether they be in neighborhoods, schools, social service sites, or workplaces – is part of the systemic change necessary to transform our food system.

Our hands-on programming and support for garden communities have direct impacts on health, food security, and local community development.

info@vcgn.org
(802) 861-4769