News

Growing Together Iowa Visit

In July 2025, members of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach administration and the Department of Horticulture visited two Growing Together Iowa gardens in Story County. Growing Together Iowa projects are supported by Iowa Master Gardener Volunteers in 27 counties across the state.

New to the Growing Together Iowa cohort this year was the Grow and Give Produce Donation Program at Reiman Gardens. At this stop, staff gained a firsthand look at a gleaning operation that collected over 17,000 lbs. of produce in the 2024 growing season. This program is supported by donations from an onsite donation garden, community growers, Ames Main Street Farmer’s Market vendors, and the ISU Horticulture Research Farm. Volunteers, including Iowa Master Gardeners, collect, weigh, clean, and package produce to be distributed to nine area food pantries across Story County.

The second stop was the Beloit Donation Garden, a project of the Story County Master Gardeners that has been part of the Growing Together Iowa program for eight years. Produce from this donation garden is donated to Food at First in Ames. Garden volunteers grow both annual and perennial crops and donated over 2,700 pounds of produce in 2024.

Growing Together Iowa is a donation garden mini-grant project that increases access to fruits and vegetables, promotes healthy food access, and provides nutrition and gardening education to individuals who are food insecure. The program is supported by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed).

Due to changes in the federal budget, SNAP-Ed funding will be discontinued as of September 30, 2025, bringing an end to the Growing Together Iowa program.