Though the recent late-winter snowfalls in the Twin Cities might suggest otherwise, spring is right around the corner, which means garden season is almost here! At Hope Community Inc., the Food, Land, and Community (FLC) team has been busy preparing for the upcoming season and dreaming about various programming, events, and activities to host this season. The mission of the FLC program is to bring community members together to grow and cook nutritious food, learn about local food systems, celebrate culture and traditions related to food and land, and take action on opportunities for systems change.
New FLC program organizers Jeremey Paulson and Caroline Hall are eager to build community power through the garden spaces this season. Hailing from North Minneapolis, Jeremey brings years of experience in youth work and wellness spaces, and he recently co-founded Wellness on the Block (WOB), a grassroots organization tailored to BIPOC individuals and their inclusion within wellness practices. WOB provides accessible, safe, and welcoming spaces for BIPOC to heal and network with other wellness professionals via donation-based classes and expos. He also teaches regular dance classes at the Northside Artspace Lofts.
Caroline grew up in Indiana and moved to Minnesota for college, where she studied environmental studies and music. She has worked on several farms, including Unity Gardens in her hometown of South Bend, IN, where she first learned about the intersection of community health, environmental justice, and growing food. Caroline is passionate about building community power and advancing food justice through communal gardening and she’s excited to grow alongside Phillips community members this season. She recently got her beekeeping certificate and hopes to start her own hive soon!
Last week, the FLC team hosted our first event of the year, a garden interest meeting intended to gather community members interested in being involved in programming this year. We shared a delicious meal and heard from community members about crops they want to grow, skills they want to share, and events they’d like to take part in. We are currently planning to grow in our three garden spaces near Hope Community (611 E. Franklin Ave.), including an individual plot-based garden. If you’re interested in getting involved in the gardens or having your own plot, please contact flc@hope-community.org.
Article and pictures provided by: By the FLC team at Hope Community