We've grown nearly 3,000 pounds of organic food for hungry Oregonians. Can you help us do more?

Verdura Culinary Gardens’ commitment to food and gardening education and to feeding the hungry has resulted in extraordinary partnerships with some generous philanthropists and a local nonprofit, Birch Community Services (BCS).

Dedicating to providing food, job skills and other assistance to the working poor, BCS counts more than 800 Portland-area families among its program participants. Most of the food donations are from grocery stores, restaurants and local food manufacturers – among others – but two years ago, Verdura and BCS teamed up to start growing food specifically for the food bank through Penelope’s Giving Garden and Riverbend Organic Gardens.

Thanks to a generous local family who donated land and funding for Riverbend, Verdura now operates the site as an organic production garden as well as a teaching facility, where BCS program participants volunteer in the garden to give back to the organization as well as to learn useful organic gardening techniques.

In the 2010 growing season we produced nearly 1,500 pounds of organic vegetables and herbs from Riverbend’s 20 raised beds in a 50' x 50' garden.

Corporate philanthropy: feeding the hungry at work

If this model works well in a residential garden, why not at work? If you know a company interested in corporate philanthropy initiatives, we'd love to talk to them about installing a workplace garden and considering donating some or all of their produce to BCS or any other nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry.

We also continue to look for opportunities to develop similar gardens at residences. Contact us for more information.