A community garden is a public area, typically Farmers Market photo courtesy of http://ChrisandSaraLew.

com
Hendersen, Bethany, and Kimberly Hartfield. "Is Getting into the Community Garde n
within or near a park, where individuals from the Business a Good Way to Engage Citizens in Local Government?" National
Civic Review (2009): 12-17. Print.
community can Jarosz, L. "The City in the Country: Growing Alternative Food Networks in Metropolitan
rent plots and Areas." Journal of Rural Studies 24.3 (2008): 231-44. Print

grow their own Padel, Susanne, and Carolyn Foster. "Exploring the Gap between Attitudes and
Behaviour: Understanding Why Consumers Buy or Do Not Buy Organic Food."
food. British Food Journal 107.8 (2005): 606-25. Print.

“Whereas community gardens allow

individuals to grow plots for themselves, ours are
existing flower plots in Denver parks that are given
to us to turn into vegetable gardens It’s a different
model that provides more efficient benefits and
saves the city money”
Dana Miller, Director of Grow Local

Grow Local Revolutionizing Colorado’s Local Food

Economy
works in
association with
many other The Grow Local Revolution is one that
Denver our research group finds worth
alternative food promoting. Through this brochure, we
networks, hope to inform and influence the reader
to appreciate and acknowledge the
“defined by
important and socially relevant concepts
attributes such
exemplified and promoted by Grow Local
as the spatial Colorado.
(Cherry Creek Farmers’ Market) proximity Mission:
between farmers and consumers, the existance of Grow Local Colorado is an
retail venues such as farmer’s markets, community alternative food network working to
supported agriculture and a commitment to revolutionize the way food is produced,
sustainable food production and consumption” distributed, and the way our society and
(Jarosz 231), in order to promote growth and economy interacts with local agriculture.
sustainability within the local economy, utilizing the Grow Local is a volunteer organization
community resources for community needs. utilizing public land to cultivate produce,
which is then donated to local food
banks.

(Observatory Park Garden)
Grow Local’s Impact
All produce from Grow Local
Colorado gardens is donated to local food
banks in order to give back to people in
the community; this organization is 100%
non-profit. By donating to food banks,
Grow Local supports the those who
normally cannot afford fresh produce, as
well making organic produce available to
those who would not normally have
access.
Local
Food
Banks like
Ample
Harvest
try to
utilize the
internet,
that enables 40 million plus
Americans who grow food in home
gardens, to easily donate their extra
harvest to one of 3,657 registered local
food pantries in one of our 50 states.
Grow Local has worked to distance
itself from Food Supply Chains
questioning why ship in food when you
can get it from local places in the city of
Denver?
“Part of the vegetables grown at
the governor’s mansion will go to The
Kitchen (a food bank) and the rest of the
food will go to The Gathering Place,
which is a non-profit organization that
works as a drop-in center for women and
children who need safe places.”
-Miller
The time and dedication Grow
Local is putting in to keep our produce
local and make a community impact
through a community project. If you’re
interested in helping, check out the
following resource:
http://www.ampleharvest.org/
How Grow Local is
Raising Community
Awareness
A fundamental goal of the Grow
Local Campaign is to raise awareness
local organic agriculture. They are
accomplishing this by:
-Striving to remain “hyperlocal” (Denver
only!) to connect with community
members
-Partnering with Denver Parks and
Recreation to encourage program
growth and prominence
-Creating connection between potential
gardeners and land owners to increase
“Gardensharing”
-Hosting AgriCULTURE potlucks open to
the public to spread knowledge of Grow
Local’s cause
-Hosting an annual AgriCULTURE tour of
Denver showcasing the local food
movement right here!
Grow Local is operating on many
levels to raise awareness of one of
the largest, often forgot about issues:
food production.
To learn more about how you can get
involved and support Grow Local please visit
GrowLocalColroado.org
Don’t forget to check out the Calendar of
Upcoming Events!
Models such as Grow Local’s and
community gardening are sustainable
food production methods for the future in
which, “consumers will not have to worry
about what chemicals may have been
used on the produce
because they cultivated
the crops themselves”
(Hendersen et. al 12). This
community can serve as a
means to providing
affordable organic produce
while offering incentives
for “greater involvement
in one’s community,
through volunteerism and social
interaction” (Padel et. al 615).
The Grow Local
Revolution
The Grow Local Colorado
community is doing much more than
raising awareness of alternative food
networks, donating to food banks,
and growing produce. The community
is fighting an uphill battle against the
current capitalized and politically
influenced
food
production
and
distribution
agenda.
 As a group promoting their
cause in various sectors, it can be a
struggle to get support, funding, or
action to change the current policies,
legislation, or even way of thinking
that surround food production.
Revolution is a recurrent theme
in our society. A revolution providing
relief of impoverishment, promoting
sustainability, and fully utilizing
Earth’s resources is one that may be
worth getting behind. Grow Local
Colorado, and their supporters (like
you!) are calling for a Grow Local
Revolution: for the government to
support the people that support it.
Many alternative food reforms
are spreading a new mindset about
food. If you’re interested in taking
action to revolutionize our food
system along side of Grow Local
Colorado, please visit any of the
following resources to find out more
information and how to get involved:

http://www.growlocalcolorado.org/get-
involved.html
http://sustainableagriculture.net/take-action/
http://www.sustainabletable.org/home.php
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://farmandranchfreedom.org/