Get Involved
You do not need a large farm, a big budget, or years of experience. You need a willingness to grow, share, and show up for your community.
There Is a Role for Everyone
The Grow and Give Program is built on many different kinds of participation. Whether you want to get your hands in the soil or help behind the scenes, we have a place for you.
Start a backyard or container garden and donate at least half of every harvest to a local food pantry or partner organization.
Volunteer your time at an active Grow and Give site to help with harvesting, sorting, and preparing produce for donation.
Share your knowledge of gardening, seed saving, composting, or sustainable practices with community members of all ages.
Offer your church, school, or organization’s outdoor space as a Grow and Give growing site for the community.
Help preserve local plant genetics by saving seeds from healthy plants and sharing them through the CWCF seed network.
Help bring food education and hands-on growing experiences to young people in schools and community programs.
Help record harvests, donations, and volunteer hours — data that proves our impact and helps us secure funding.
Support the program financially or with in-kind donations of seeds, tools, compost, or growing supplies.
Share the Grow and Give story with your neighbors, congregation, school, or organization and help the network grow.
What You Get as a Volunteer
Guidance on growing, seed saving, and sustainable practices — no experience needed.
Receive seeds, growing materials, and support from the CWCF network to get started.
Join a network of growers and volunteers making a real difference in your neighborhood.
Every harvest goes directly to seniors, veterans, families, and shelters in your area.
Ready to Grow Something That Matters?
Fill out our volunteer interest form and a program coordinator from Cooling Water Community Farms will be in touch with next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Grow and Give Program welcomes complete beginners. We provide training, guidance, and resources to help you get started regardless of your experience level.
Any space works — a backyard, balcony, patio, raised bed, grow bag, or container garden all qualify. The program is designed for everyday people with everyday spaces.
It depends on your role. Growers typically spend a few hours per week tending their garden. Volunteers can contribute as little or as much as their schedule allows.
We connect growers with local food pantries, shelters, churches, community kitchens, and partner organizations in your area. Your coordinator will help you identify the best donation partner near you.
No. Official Grow and Give sites do not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides. We grow in ways that protect pollinators, support soil health, and ensure safe produce for donation.
Currently yes — our pilot is operating in Gwinnett County, Georgia. However, we are building a replication kit so other communities can launch their own Grow and Give programs in the future.