GROW

Did You Know? Today, January 7th, marks the anniversary of Seattle's first P-Patch founded in 1976! Want to learn more? Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gEUtgNJR

Time is running out but ways to make an impact are plentiful! As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support and share the many ways you can continue to make a meaningful impact right here in our community. Your generosity helps us cultivate vibrant community spaces and empower a growing network of passionate gardeners.  Here are some great options for supporting GROW today, or in the year ahead:  Donor-Advised Funds: Make a donation directly from your DAF for an immediate impact.  Monthly Giving: Consider setting up a recurring monthly gift to provide ongoing support throughout the year.  Employer Matching: Many employers offer matching gift programs. Deepen your impact by checking with your company!  Qualified Charitable Distribution: If you’re 70½ or older, consider directing a distribution from your IRA to support GROW’s mission.  Legacy Gifts: Plan for the future and leave a lasting impact by including GROW in your estate plans.  Volunteer: Join our board to support gardens, expand your network, and make the most meaningful impact on the future of gardening in Seattle! As you reflect on your giving this year, we hope you’ll consider GROW in your plans. Your support fuels our efforts to create inclusive and sustainable community spaces.  Thank you for being a vital part of our community. Wishing you a joyful and prosperous New Year! https://lnkd.in/gKhAEN8K

Will you help ensure our microgrant program continues to thrive in 2025?  At GROW, we believe that accessibility is essential for building inclusive community spaces, and our microgrant program is making a real difference. UpGarden is a great example, a recent microgrant recipient, used funding to install nine ADA-compliant rubber mats, enhancing the garden's functionality and accessibility. These mats create safe and accessible walkways for wheelchairs, walkers, and wheelbarrows, making the garden safer while protecting vital infrastructure from damage. Enhancements like these foster a more inclusive environment and allow all community members to realize their love for gardening. GROW’s microgrant program is made possible thanks to the generous support of our donor community. There’s still time to double your impact by making a gift to GROW today. Thank you for considering this important investment and for supporting initiatives that empower communities to thrive! https://lnkd.in/gKhAEN8K #donate

Give the Gift of Greenspace 🌻 As we reflect on the past year, we’re excited to celebrate the significant progress in transforming GROW’s newly acquired Shoreline property into a vibrant greenspace. With the incredible support of King County and our generous donors, GROW has completed the property purchase and established a conservation easement to protect this valuable space from future development. Dozens of community members—including volunteers from Diggin’ Shoreline and representatives from Canlis and the Ching family—have come together to clear the land and begin essential upgrades (visit Diggin' Shoreline's website to learn more about the ongoing work at Ching Community Gardens and how you can get involved). While we are grateful for these contributions, much work remains to transform Ching Garden into a thriving food forest that nourishes our community.  Your gift GROW is an opportunity to transform this property and to share your love of gardening with others. Thanks to a generous donor and our committed Board of Trustees, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar to double the impact! Together, we can bring this vision to life. https://lnkd.in/gKhAEN8K

Friends, it is not too late to DOUBLE your impact!! Our donations are still being matched dollar for dollar, donate today and make an impact 🪴

📣 GROW your impact x2!  Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to generosity, and in that spirit, we’d like to share a story of generosity and extend a heartfelt invitation for your support.  This year, GROW was gifted a parcel of land in West Seattle, a generous donation from the late Margi Beyers, a cherished friend of GROW and a beloved member of our community. Margi envisioned a vibrant space for all to enjoy and today, GROW is carrying on this vision.   While remnants of the once thriving garden remain, the property known as Bulldog Garden, named by Margi herself, is overgrown and in need of significant restoration. Our community has already begun to pitch in to support this work, but we need your help to make Bulldog Garden a reality. To celebrate generosity, we’re offering a special opportunity to DOUBLE your impact! Your donation to GROW will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to an anonymous member of our community and the generosity of our Board. Will you support these critical restoration efforts and help us to transform this special space into a thriving community gathering place? Together, we can honor Margi’s legacy and ensure that Bulldog Garden becomes a lasting gift to our Seattle community. In the spirit of generosity, we thank you for considering this opportunity to make a truly transformative impact.  https://lnkd.in/gag3mD2x #GivingTuesday #donate

Happy Thanksgiving from GROW! This season of gratitude reminds us of how deeply thankful we are for each of you—our volunteers, supporters, and community gardeners—who help us cultivate healthier, more inclusive communities. Your commitment to growing, sharing, and preparing organic produce not only nourishes our tables but also strengthens the bonds that tie us together. Together, we are planting the seeds of resilience, sustainability, and hope for generations to come. As we gather to give thanks, let us celebrate the transformative power of gardens, open spaces, and community action. From our garden to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a bountiful and joyful Thanksgiving. #donate #thangsgiving #gratitude #local #organic #foodbanks #locallygrown #communitygarden #seattle #boardmember #urbangardening #grow #volunteer #communitythroughgardens #community #boardservice

🌱 Exciting November News at GROW! 🌱 📢 New Board Member Announcement! 📢 We are thrilled to welcome two new board members, Linda Yue and Elizabeth G Gray! Their extensive experience and passion for community empowerment and sustainable practices will be invaluable as we continue our mission of cultivating organic community gardens. Linda and Elizabeth will bring fresh perspectives and expertise to our efforts, and we look forward to their insights and contributions. Together, we will continue to create lasting change and foster vibrant, sustainable spaces for our communities. Join us in welcoming Linda and Elizabeth to the GROW family! 🌍💚 #GROW #CommunityGardens #Sustainability #Welcome #BoardMembers #donate #seattle #urbangardens

What an incredible year for community gardening! 🌱 If you’d like to get your hands on The GROW Report, feel free to email us at Info@GROWnorthwest.org or send us a message here. Let's connect!

Please join us in saying thank you and farewell to Board member, Michelle Blume, as she completes her tenure of 8 years and 9 months with GROW! Michelle joined GROW in January of 2016 and was elected President in October of that same year. She served in that capacity until January 2022 and has been integral to all our initiatives since. We are so grateful for her experience and leadership helping to guide our growth, seeing us through the Ballard acquisition where she worked directly with the Ballard P-Patch to purchase the land and place it in a land trust to preserve the open space. She was involved in the inception of the P-Patch Post, and spearheaded iconic urban garden events like the Chef in the Garden. We are most grateful for her active leadership as a judicious steward of our organization. Even though she is leaving GROW and Seattle, Michelle plans to continue efforts to support community gardens and their goals to provide fresh, organic, and locally grown produce to neighborhood food banks. Board service is an impactful volunteer role that requires dedication, and Michelle took her Board duties even further, showing exceptional commitment, grace, and seriousness. We will miss her dearly and wish her all the best. #local #organic #foodbanks #locallygrown #communitygarden #seattle #boardmember #urbangardening #grow #donate #volunteer #communitythroughgardens #community #boardservice