Bountiful Cities Project

BOUNTIFUL CITIES IS THE URBAN AGRICULTURE RESOURCE IN ASHEVILLE. WE SHARE AGRICULTURE RESOURCES AND SKILLS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY. WE ENVISION ABUNDANT AND FOOD SOVEREIGN COMMUNITIES.

FEAST IS AN ONGOING PROGRAM OF BOUNTIFUL CITIES REACHING OVER 1,200 STUDENTS IN ASHEVILLE/ BUNCOMBE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THE MISSION OF THE FEAST IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO GROW, PREPARE AND ENJOY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THROUGH HANDS-ON COOKING AND GARDEN EDUCATION. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER STANDARDS-ALIGNED LESSONS AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL GARDENS IN ASHEVILLE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FEAST IS OFFERED AT 14 LOCATIONS DELIVERING IN-SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CURRICULUM. THE SCHOOL GARDENS THAT WE MANAGE SERVE AS COMMUNITY FOOD HUBS, AND THEIR CONTINUED IMPROVED FUNCTIONING AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT COUNTLESS RESIDENTS OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS OF EACH GARDEN. THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR LESSONS AND MEET WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO CHECK IN ABOUT PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS AND UPDATES. AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE EVALUATE THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE AND GATHER FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS, FAMILIES, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK: THIS PROGRAM OF BOUNTIFUL CITIES SUPPORTS AROUND 38 COMMUNITY GARDENS IN ASHEVILLE/BUNCOMBE COUNTY. BOUNTIFUL CITIES FACILITATES INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING, GARDENING EDUCATION, WORKSHOPS, AND MONTHLY MEETUPS AND NEWSLETTER. THE CGN ALSO HOUSES A SEED AND TOOL LIBRARY, PARTICIPATES IN SHARED FUNDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENTS, AND CONNECTS AREA GARDENERS WITH SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THE MONTHLY WORKSHOPS AND NEWSLETTER HAVE BEEN RELEVANT TO CONTINUE TO CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT AND EDUCATION.

BOUNTIFUL CITIES ALSO WORKS ON MANY COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF LOCAL HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS SERVED AS LEAD AGENCY FOR MULTIPLE PROJECTS AND CONTINUES TO BE A RELEVANT PARTNER WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY BECOME SUFFICIENT. IN 2021 BOUNTIFUL CITIES STAFF SERVED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH THE FLEDGING WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOOD JUSTICE PLANNING INITIATIVE (WNCFJPI). IN THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES THE WNCFJIP RECEIVED SEVERAL GRANTS THAT ALLOWED THE 6 STRATEGY AREAS TO HIRE SUPPORT STAFF TO INCREASE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. THE WNCFJIP INCLUDES 22 COUNTIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WITH OVER 22 AGENCIES, NON-PROFITS, FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE PURPOSE IS TO HAVE THRIVING REGENERATIVE, RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS CENTERING FOOD JUSTICE FOR ALL IN WNC.