Food Well Alliance also did its share to keep growers growing, and to provide that food where it was needed. In 2020, the 5-year old nonprofit delivered seedlings, bulk compost and labor support to dozens of community gardens; deployed nearly 1,500 hours of labor support to urban farms; facilitated the distribution of more than 330,000 pounds of excess food donated by metro area gardeners; and helped to activate idle school gardens to grow food for families in need.

When the pandemic turned idle school gardens into weeds, robbed urban growers of income streams, and created long lines at food banks, two Atlanta nonprofits joined forces to fight back. The response is Project Giving Gardens, where urban growers are being paid to turn 102 metro-area school gardens into a harvest of vegetables that is going back into the community to feed families.

With the Project Giving Gardens program reinstated, over 100 community gardens will be prepared to become fully functioning mini-gardens under the direct supervision of some of the area’s most renowned urban farmers.