Seed to Feed Celebrates it’s 10-Year Anniversary!

This year marks the 10-year-anniversary of our Seed to Feed program. Seed to Feed has grown leaps and bounds, from its humble beginning of two community gardens, to it’s now 22 gardens providing produce to both our food pantry guests and other food pantries throughout the county.

Kurt Bullard and Burt Culver were the founders and Dave Hochstetler was the first coordinator who brought Seed to Feed to life back in 2011. Kurt says, “The success of the program is a direct result of the strength and gifts of each of our coordinators. Katie, Natasha, Morgan, Chelsea, and Gabby have had all the talents that were needed at each particular stage of the program. The willingness for people to walk along with the program and give of their time and resources has made it easier to be bold with the program's mission and vision.”

Seed to Feed has also grown to include the Teen Growers internship for youth in Elkhart County. Teen Growers is now offered three times during the year, spring, summer and fall, so that teens have the opportunity to learn and help their community during all three parts of the gardening season. Interns gain work experience as they tend our garden and greenhouse. They learn about nutrition and gardening and are encouraged to take home fresh home fresh food to their families. Interns also gain experience practicing social and emotional skills that prepare them to become productive members of society and civic minded adults. Finally, interns are taught about agriculture and gardening as a career pathway.

John, a rising senior at Elkhart High School, was a spring intern who enjoyed his experience so much that he decided to participate again in the summer. John said he’s learned that in some communities fast food is cheaper and easier to obtain than fresh, healthy food. “I want other teens to know that by participating in Teen Growers you are really helping the community. It means a lot to families to be able to eat fresh produce.” One of his favorite parts of the internship is the new friendships he’s been able to make and the great conversations that have spontaneously happened while they all worked together in the garden.