Gardens program
FOOD for Lane County’s two gardens — the GrassRoots Garden and the Youth Farm — grow fresh nutritious food for distribution through the FFLC network of partner agencies while providing opportunities for youth and adults to grow, learn and contribute to their community. More than 2,000 children and youth visit the gardens each year, and youth and adults gain skills in gardening, nutrition, and community building.
Our online Produce Stand is open! https://farmstand.foodforlanecounty.org.
Seed to Supper & Gardening Workshops:
- Attend a Seed to Supper Class Series
Seed to Supper™ is a free beginning vegetable gardening course that teaches participants how to garden on a budget. In this interactive class, participants gain new knowledge and skills to be able to start a garden and grow some of their own food. Trained and experienced volunteer educators teach the class primarily indoors with visits to on-site gardens when available. Students who complete the course have access to a course booklet, seeds, organic compost and fertilizers and other goodies.
Course topics:
- Garden site and soil development
- Garden planning
- Planting a garden
- Caring for a growing garden
- Harvesting and using garden bounty
Watch this space for upcoming Seed to Supper classes!
- Volunteer
We coordinate meaningful tasks appropriate for all ages and abilities. Visit our volunteer page for contact information and our volunteer application.
- Be a Seed to Supper Volunteer
Seed to Supper is a comprehensive, six-week beginning gardening course that gives novice, adult gardeners the tools they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget. Seed to Supper Garden Educator volunteers teach classes at community host sites. FOOD for Lane County offers Seed to Supper in partnership with Oregon Food Bank.- Please fill out an application and then message Jen Anonia here.
- Attend a workshop
Contact us for the latest schedule for workshops on beginning and advanced gardening skills.
- Visit the gardens
Schedule a field trip and service learning opportunity for your school, organization or business.
The GrassRoots Garden
The GrassRoots Garden is a 2.5-acre garden that includes a City of Eugene compost demonstration site and a full outdoor kitchen. FFLC staff maintain the GrassRoots Garden with help from thousands of children, youth and adult volunteers. Staff and OSU Lane County Extension Master Gardeners teach workshops and lead educational activities in the garden.
Where: 1465 Coburg Road, Eugene, OR 97401 (Behind St. Thomas Episcopal Church)
Volunteer hours: November through April: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10am – 4pm. May through October: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am – 4pm. Ask for Merry or Zoë.
The Youth Farm
All volunteers 16 yrs. and up are welcome to help at the Youth Farm!
Volunteers are able to drop in anytime before 11 am or after 1 pm Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Even though the duration says 7 hours, you do not need to arrive at 9 am or stay until 4 pm.
Whether you have a couple of hours or all day to volunteer, anytime you have to give is very much appreciated.
Planting, harvesting, weeding, there is so much we could use your help with.
Check in with Dan or Ted when you arrive!
The Youth Farm is a 5 acre urban educational farm and a work experience site for youth. Each year, community volunteers assist staff in growing over 100,000 pounds of organic produce, learning while growing. Each summer, a crew of teens works at the farm where they receive job skills and training in gardening, leadership, financial management and nutrition while growing food for FFLC and for a 100+ member Community Supported Agriculture Program and two produce stands.
Where: 705 Flamingo Avenue, Springfield, OR 97477
Volunteer hours:
- February: Wednesday and Saturday, 10am – 4pm
- March – November: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9am – 4pm – Ask for Ted or Dan
- December and January: Closed to drop-in volunteers
- Try our veggies
Purchase our produce through our Community Supported Agriculture program. - Check out our farm stand
Purchase our produce at our online farm stand for pickup at the Youth Farm (open to online pre-order customers only):- Pick up Saturdays June through October, 10-2 at our Youth Farm, 705 Flamingo Ave. in Springfield. Pre-order here (online ordering begins June 8!)
- At the farm stand, we accept SNAP/EBT (matched up to $10 thanks to the Farmers Market Fund) as well as WIC Farm Direct Nutrition Coupons (which we match up to $4).
Trillium Veggie RX in Association with the FFLC Youth Farm
Trillium Veggie Rx provides access to free fresh fruits and vegetables to patients as a way to help with a variety of health conditions, or if they screen positive for food insecurity using the Screen & Intervene screening tool. The patient takes the vegetable prescription/voucher to the FFLC Youth Farm stand, or gets a subsidized weekly box of vegetables.
Want to become a Community Supported Agriculture member?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) establishes a direct link between food consumers and food growers. FFLC’s Youth Farm currently offers CSA memberships. Find out more about the program here.
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