Homegrown South

Homegrown South is a new initiative focused on creating a healthy and sustainable local food network in the
south metro. Inspired by Homegrown Minneapolis, Homegrown South aims to bring together individuals,
organizations, businesses, schools and governments as collaborative partners to grow, process, distribute and
enjoy locally-grown fresh foods. Download a  brochure about Homegrown South and Community Food Day
Monthly meetings are organized and attended by community members--all are welcome. Contact Gary Johnson at Valley Natural Foods if you'd like an invite to upcoming meetings, or follow us on Facebook.  Or join us at....

Community Gardens in Dakota County

In 2010-2011, Gardening Matters worked with the Dakota County Public Health Department (DCPHD) to support new and expanding community gardens in Dakota County.   DCPHD recieved a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant from the Minnesota Department of Health to help support interventions that will decrease the incedience of diet-related chronic disease.   Community gardens were chosen an intervention because they improve produce access, increase physical activity, and create communities that support healthy lifestyle change!  Funding was available in 2010 and 2011 for new and expanding community gardens that make garden space or fresh produce available to low-income and underserved communities in Dakota County.

In 2010, SHIP funded gardens donated nearly 19,000 pounds of produce to Dakota County food shelves, and involved 600 people in gardening!

Thank you to Dakota County Public Health, the Minnesota Department Health, and the hundreds of Dakota County community gardeners who made this happen! 

Learn more and connect with the SHIP funded community gardens in Dakota County!

2011 SHIP Awardees
Chapel Hill Church Community Garden, Eagan
Garden to Table, Eagan
Partnership Garden, Apple Valley (See a student-produced video of the garden groundbreaking here)
Pine Bend Elementary Give-Away Garden, Inver Grove Heights
SOTV Community Garden, Apple Valley
Ss Martha and Mary Community Garden, Eagan
Wolk Park Community Garden, Burnsville

2010 SHIP Awardees
Advent Community Garden, Eagan
Garden to Table, Eagan
Highland Drive Community Garden, Burnsville
International Outreach Church Community Garden, Burnsville
Nativity Outreach Garden, Burnsville
Pilot Knob School and Community Garden, Eagan
Project FoodPatch, Lakeville
Salem Hills Community Garden, Inver Grove Heights
Trinity Evangelical Free Church Community Garden, Lakeville