About Project GROWS
Our Mission
Project GROWS is an educational, nonprofit farm with a mission to grow a healthy community by connecting all people to nutritious foods.
We envision a world with an equitable food system where everyone has the access and knowledge to choose, grow, and enjoy foods that support a healthy life.
We know that kids who have a hand in growing their vegetables in the garden LOVE to eat them and that bringing fresh produce into our schools helps grow a new generation of engaged and healthy youth.
We also know that many families in our community do not have access to affordable, nutritious produce. We are filling in those gaps with programs like our Mobile Markets, Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) programs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Matching Program, and donations to families and pantries throughout our area.
In the words of Geoff Lawton, we believe “all the world’s problems can be solved in the garden.”
We envision a world with an equitable food system where everyone has the access and knowledge to choose, grow, and enjoy foods that support a healthy life.
Our History
Project GROWS is a true community collaborative: the organization was formed in 2010 when a group of nine human service agencies representing at-risk populations throughout the region came together to address the serious health issues facing our community.
An Augusta Health Community Health Needs Assessment reported that Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro held very high rates of obesity with simultaneously high rates of hunger among other health and nutrition-related issues.
In 2012, after two years of planning and research, the Project GROWS educational farm broke ground with support from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, Augusta Health, and County of Augusta. Our directive was to focus on food education and access as critical pieces of the solution for improving long-term health.
