They say gardening feeds the soul.
It can also feed neighbors in need.
“If you've never experienced the joy of accomplishing
more than you can imagine, plant a garden.”
ROBERT BRAULT
Wyoming gardeners: We need your green thumbs to fight food insecurity.
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You don't need special training in fighting food insecurity to make a difference. You only need to identify a need and figure out how best to help fill it. Wyoming Hunger Initiative, the University of Wyoming Cent$ible Nutrition Program, and Master Gardener program invite you to join the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming this season! When you commit to Grow A Little Extra for local anti-hunger organizations, everyone benefits.
Pick up (free!) seeds selected for Wyoming gardens at your local UW Extension office or donate your own favorite crop — either way, you'll be an anti-hunger warrior with two green thumbs as you help your neighbors in need. Increased access to fresh produce in Wyoming is a critical tool in the fight against food insecurity. Grow A Little Extra is helping to remove existing barriers one vegetable at a time.
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH​
Join us. It's as easy as 1-2-3!
1
Set aside space in your garden (or establish a new community garden!) to grow fresh produce for local food pantries and agencies.
2
Take good care of your garden all summer.
3
Deliver your extra produce to the local UW Extension office in your county for weighing and distribution!
Grow A Little Extra PARTNERS & RESOURCES
GROW A LITTLE EXTRA (GALE) COMMUNITY GRANT
Any 501(c)3 status (or equivalent) organization within the state of Wyoming whose mission aligns with the mission of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative and who is committed to increasing the amount of local produce donated to individuals, food pantries, and anti-hunger organizations around the state is invited to apply for a Grow A Little Extra grant to assist in participation in the program. For the 2024-2025 cycle, individual grants will be awarded up to $1,000 per organization.
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Applications for 2024-2025 grants can be submitted starting November 1, 2024.
GROW A LITTLE EXTRA MARKETING MATERIALS
The following materials are available for download for use in promoting and encouraging participation in the GALE program.
MARKETING GUIDE
ONE-PAGE OVERVIEW
SOCIAL MEDIA ADS
POSTER
Click on the image to open it, then right-click to "Save image as" for a download.
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING EXTENSION RESOURCES
With offices in each of Wyoming's 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation, University of Wyoming (UW) Extension is a leader in outreach education. UW Extension offers programs in 4-H, agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, natural resources, Community Vitality and Health, and so much more including the Cent$ible Nutrition Program and Master Gardener Program.
Six varieties of seeds selected for their ability to grow in Wyoming's climate are available to Grow a Little Extra gardeners free of charge! Just visit your local UW Extension office to pick them up. These same offices are the drop off locations for donations.
FREE seed pick up and donation locations:
The following publications and YouTube videos include helpful information about gardening in general and the challenges of gardening in Wyoming!
Barnyards and Backyards Live:
Soils for Successful Vegetable Gardens
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Barnyards and Backyards Live:
Transplanting Vegetable Plants Into the Garden
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Barnyards and Backyards Live:
Successfully Watering Your Garden
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Barnyards and Backyards Live:
Extending the Growing Season for Vegetables
MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM
The University of Wyoming Extension's Master Gardener program shares horticulture resources, promotes backyard gardens and community gardens, and educates backyard gardeners and specialty crop producers throughout Wyoming. They are an excellent resource for questions, support, and even to round up volunteers to help in community gardens.
Your local UW Extension office can help!
CENT$IBLE NUTRITION PROGRAM EDUCATORS
Cent$ible Nutrition Program Educators are University of Wyoming Extension employees who serve their local communities by teaching nutrition and cooking skills to help individuals with limited resources eat healthy on a budget, increase their access to fresh produce, as well as by working with local partners on projects that help increase access to nutritious foods. Your local Cent$ible Nutrition Program educator will work with you to weigh your produce donation and match it to a local anti-hunger organization for distribution.
Your local educators are excited to answer all questions about Grow A Little Extra!
THE BILL EMERSON GOOD SAMARITAN FOOD DONATION ACT
In 1996, Congress passed the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to address liability-related barriers challenges to food recovery and donation efforts. The Act “establish[es] a uniform national law to protect organizations and individuals when they donate goods in good faith” for the purpose of “encourag[ing] and enabl[ing] restaurants, grocers, and other donors to feed the hungry.” And, it's what enables programs like Grow A Little Extra to exist!
Download the full text of the Bill Emerson Act
Contact your local Cent$ible Nutrition Program educator to weigh your donation and to learn about anti-hunger organizations who are accepting produce donations!
