Growing Hope Through Garden Education
What started as a small garden at our Neptune Headquarters in 2000 has flourished into a full Garden Education Program, teaching children and adults how to grow, harvest and prepare fresh produce for healthier, more self-sustaining lives.
At Fulfill, we understand that hunger isn’t solved just by feeding people. That’s why we take a comprehensive approach to hunger by offering programs, services and resources that address the root causes of food insecurity. Through the Garden Education Program, we’re empowering neighbors with the knowledge and tools to grow their own food and build a more secure future.
The Garden Education Program includes five unique initiatives that engage all ages and populations through hands-on learning and sustainable growing practices. With the guidance of Garden Coordinators like Kendal McGackin, our gardens have become spaces for learning and shared purpose. “We see the garden as a classroom, a food source and a community hub,” says Kendal. “When someone learns to grow their own food, they’re not just feeding themselves for a season, they’re building lifelong skills.”
Learning Garden
The Learning Garden, located onsite at our Neptune Headquarters, grows a variety of fresh produce, from tomatoes and cucumbers to kale, figs, fruit and fresh herbs, on a quarter-acre of land. Produce is harvested and distributed directly to the community or through our network of pantry partners.
Plant beds, a fruit orchard, a heated greenhouse, a cold frame for protection against adverse weather, a five-bin compost system, eight honeybee colonies, mushroom growing area and an Eagle Scout-built wash station are all managed by our full-time garden employees and volunteers.
Giving Garden Network
Across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, 30 community gardens put fresh, locally grown produce in food pantries. Each garden is paired with a nearby pantry, creating a direct pipeline from harvest to pantry to table. During the last growing season, the Network proudly produced 26,492 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Seed to Supper
This 10-week adult education workshop is designed for beginners interested in learning how to grow their own food on a budget, combining classroom instruction with garden-based learning. Participants learn urban farming techniques, including soil preparation, composting, planting, watering and harvesting. The program helps individuals build confidence in growing food, regardless of prior experience.
After completing the workshop series, each participant is assigned a garden bed at our Community Garden and encouraged to plant and maintain crops of their choice. Seed to Supper encourages participants to be self-sufficient and make healthy, cost-effective meals at home.
School Garden Network
We’re planting the seeds of knowledge early, because knowing where food comes from and why nutrition matters can spark a lifelong healthy habit. This eight-week workshop teaches students in K-8th grades the fundamentals of gardening, how to build garden beds, grow their own produce and even prepare meals using the fruits and vegetables that they grew themselves. “Students will try new foods when they are the ones to nurture it to full harvest,” explains Kendal.
We also provide schools with a garden curriculum to integrate garden-based learning into the classroom – giving teachers the tools to continue the work after the workshops end.
From young students learning where their meals come from to adults gaining the skills to grow their own food, each program plants seeds of knowledge, empowerment and resilience. “We’re growing more than crops; we’re cultivating community and building a healthier, more food-secure future for Monmouth and Ocean Counties residents,” said Kendal.