Growing Goodness, Together

Since 2010, Nature’s Path’s Gardens for Good: Plant it Forward program has supported over 120 community gardens across the U.S. and Canada, donating more than $1 million CAD to help grow access to fresh, organic food in underserved communities. Last year, the program surpassed its original goal – three years ahead of schedule – of donating more than $1 million CAD by 2028. Building on this momentum, Gardens for Good will continue to flourish, reinvesting in communities and channeling vital dollars toward initiatives that expand equitable access to organic food for all.  

Gardens for Good celebrates and empowers the incredible efforts of local gardens that nourish their communities, promote food sovereignty, and champion organic practices. 

We’re especially proud to share that the majority of Plant it Forward ®  grant recipients support gardens serving underrepresented and underserved communities. This year, the program will again strongly encourage gardens who are serving underrepresented and underserved communities to apply—amplifying the voices and leadership of those most often impacted by food insecurity. 

Together, we’re planting the seeds for a more equitable, sustainable future. 

We are thrilled to announce that applications for the 2026 Gardens for Good contest
will open on June 9th!

Applications from eligible gardens will be accepted until July 7th, and the winners will be announced July 28th on our website and social media platforms.

Eligibility Requirements for 2026:

To be eligible for a 2026 grant, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  • Be a registered non-profit organization. 
  • Must be located in the US (excluding Arizona) or Canada (excluding Quebec). 
  • Have/will have an urban organic agriculture feeding project or program providing food to  low-income communities, soup kitchens, food banks, emergency pantries, school feeding programs, shelters or similar types. Must have permission or access to use the land. 
  • Must be managed organically without the use of toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or GMO (genetically modified) &/or treated seeds. Learn more about organic practices here. 
  • Gardens founded by and serving underserved or underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. (If you would like to declare this, please use the optional checkbox in the Gardens for Good application form). 
  • Cannot be winners from the last 5 years (2021-present). Winners from 2020 or before are welcome to re-apply! 

FAQs

What is Gardens for Good?

Gardens for Good helps good things grow by awarding grants to support deserving non-profit community gardening projects providing accessible, healthy, organic food to their communities. In 2026, the program will offer grants ($3000 each) to 15 gardens (10 in the US, 5 in Canada). 

What currency are the grants given in?

Winners will receive grants in their local currency (USD for US gardens, CAD for Canadian gardens). Grants in Canada are made in the amount of $3000 CAD and grants in the US are made in the amount of $3000 USD. 

Who can apply?

  • Registered non-profit organization in the United States (excluding Arizona) or Canada (excluding Quebec) in good standing in its state or jurisdiction of incorporation. 
  • Have or will have an urban organic agriculture feeding project or program providing food to serve low-income communities, soup kitchens, food banks, emergency pantries, school feeding programs, shelters or similar types. Must have permission or access to use the land. 
  • Must be managed organically without the use of toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or GMO (genetically modified) &/or treated seeds. Learn more about organic practices here. 
  • Gardens founded by and serving underserved or underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. (If you would like to declare this, please use the optional checkbox in the Gardens for Good application form).  
  • First time applicants and previous winners from 2020 and earlier can re-apply for a Gardens for Good grant. 

When can I apply?

Applications to the 2026 Program may be submitted anytime between June 9 (12:00AM PST)  and July 7 (11:59 PM PST). Once the application period closes, there will be a deliberation period, and the winners will be announced on July 28th on our website and social media platforms. 

How do I apply?

Eligible gardens can apply by filling out the application form in the Gardens for Good portal on our website during the application period.  

Applications submitted outside the Gardens for Good portal will not be considered. 

When are the winners announced?

Winners will first be contacted by email between July 24 – July 27, and will be publicly announced on July 28 on our website and social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

When did Gardens for Good launch?

The Gardens for Good program first launched in 2010. Since then, the program has grown to support more than 120  gardens by donating more than $1 million CAD. 

Where can I find the contest rules?

Contest rules.

Is there a person I can talk to if I have any questions?

You can email: gardensforgood@naturespath.com

Past Recipients

Over the years we’ve awarded grants to more than 120 gardens across United States and Canada. Here are just a few examples of our previous winners and their inspiring garden projects. 

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2025

  • Common Good City Farm, Washington D. C.  
  • Soulful Seeds, Reno, NV  
  • Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, National City, CA  
  • Semillas de Justica, Chicago, IL   
  • Habesha Garden, Atlanta, GA   
  • Sierra Harvest Food Love Farm, Nevada City, CA  
  • Gill Tract Community Farm, Albany, CA   
  • Ma’ona Community Garden, Honaunau, HI  
  • Otterbein Community Garden, Westerville, OH  
  • Ocean View Growing Grounds, San Diego, CA  
  • The Collingwood Community Center Garden, Collingwood, ON  
  • Kids Right to Know Community Garden, Richmond Hill, ON  
  • Harvest Manitoba Community Garden, Winnepeg, MB  
  • The Confederation College Community Garden, Thunder Bay, ON  
  • The Patch, London, ON  
  • Ridgewood Community Garden, Edmonton, AB  
  • Swan Valley Growing Circle, Swan Valley, MB  
  • Dixon Transition Society Garden, Burnaby, BC  
  • MAC Community Garden, Parksville, BC  
  • Rainbow Refugees, Vancouver, BC 

2024

2023

2022

2021

2019

Austin Discovery School

Austin Discovery School is an academically rigorous public charter school dedicated to building compassion, collaboration and critical thinking by engaging students with the natural world. In their EcoWellness Program, children learn environmental stewardship, gardening skills, science, and how to care for creatures we share this land with. The program includes dedicated staff, gardens and tended farm animals.

The Giving Teaching Garden

St Louisville, KY (at Shawnee People’s Garden, supported by Louisville Grows)

Shawnee People’s Garden was once an empty city lot in the middle of an urban food desert. But then citizens and local non-profit, Louisville Grows, transformed it to an oasis of organic greens. Among its gardeners was BJ Jones, who distributed his crops to folks in need. With Gardens for Good, Jones’ donations have grown and its founders now instruct others how to garden and how to create community gardens in other Louisville food deserts.

Occupy Madison Village Gardens

Madison, Wisconsin

In response to mass homelessness and food insecurity, Occupy Madison set out to provide shelter for those in need. Building 99 square foot houses resulted in the first tiny homes village integrated within a U.S. neighborhood, and it’s still going strong. Within the village, the project grows its own food to sustain and connect the community.

St. Mary’s Foundation for Children

Bayside, New York 

As New York’s first children’s hospital, St. Mary’s Foundation for Children aims to brighten up the days of its nearly 2,000 patients. Providing long-term health, the hospital teaches its children about gardening and healthy eating. With the help of Good for Gardens, the hospital aims to collaborate with more local schools and youth-based groups. Together they take part in urban farming on a dedicated one-acre plot of land.

The Growing Chefs! Classroom Gardening Program

Vancouver, B.C.

The Growing Chefs! Program allows children to learn about the origins of food and the benefits of eating well, in a fun way. With volunteer chefs at hand, young students learn everything from planting seeds, growing, and harvesting, to cooking a meal with them. It has been running for more than a decade with schools across British Columbia clamoring to join. The program hopes to include more schools to teach the value of eating sustainably.

Tri-Isle Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. 

Kahului, Hawaii (Hāli’imaile Community Garden)

The Goodwill Garden is dedicated to building food sustainability in a place where one out of seven people go hungry. The gardening space is in Kahului, Hawaii as part of a larger project whose goal is to provide access to fresh produce. The vegetables grown are donated weekly to food banks, which results in several hundred pounds of produce each month. The project serves all Maui, where 18,600 residents seek help from food banks.

The Table Community Garden

Perth, Ontario

Since 2012, the Table Community Garden has been the second affiliate Community Food Centre, offering access to healthy foods. Its nickname the Good Food Bank is what separates it from others. The project offers a variety of fresh products to support healthy and fresh food choices that often come from its own garden. Aside from providing free produce, the project also runs cooking and gardening lessons.

Oliver’s Food Project

Hamilton, Ontario

Oliver’s Food Project sprouted from curiosity when two siblings saw children rummaging through the recycling. The siblings Oliver and Piper’s mother explained the children were doing so to get money for food. This idea did not sit well with Oliver, who then created the garden project in Hamilton, Ontario. The family began selling their vegetables, where 100 per cent of sales went straight to local youth charities. The project has since expanded across five more gardens within their neighborhood.

Sole Food Street Farms

Vancouver, B.C.

Sole Food Street Farm is the brain child from a group of residents in one of North America’s worst urban slums. To help address the problems in their neighborhood, a group of residents created an urban farm, from a vacant contaminated plot of land. The project’s mission is to empower those with limited resources, giving jobs and agricultural training for those managing addiction and, chronic and mental health issues.