OUR MISSION
We always grow better together :)
Climate Garden aims to promote environmental stewardship and food justice in local communities. Our organization was founded in 2021 to address systemic racial inequities driving food insecurity in Orange County. Through establishing gardens at schools, we provide fresh produce for minority youth and families. We also educate students on environmental issues and empower them to be leaders of change.
Our 250+ volunteers, comprised of predominantly students of color, oversee 12 campus gardens across Orange County. We have donated over 9,500 pounds of fruits and vegetables to families in need. Our volunteers gain valuable leadership experience in managing garden sites, developing curriculum, and producing educational podcasts that have reached 900 monthly listeners globally.
In addition to providing healthy foods, Climate Garden is committed to nurturing future BIPOC leaders and advocates through workshops, camps, and scholarships. We aim to give students from marginalized backgrounds greater confidence that their voices and perspectives matter when addressing policies affecting their communities. Our garden spaces also unite diverse school groups in our mission of equity and justice.
Through our multipronged approach of providing both material food resources and youth empowerment programs, Climate Garden seeks to drive impactful change from the ground up, fostering inclusive and equitable communities. We aim to nourish both bodies and minds in our fight against systemic injustices.
OUR THREE PILLARS
WE BELIEVE IN INTEGRITY, INNOVATION, AND CREATIVITY
Climate change is urgent. Working together, we must think of new, creative solutions to this global issue and mobilize our team in a movement to eradicate fossil fuels.
WE WORK TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Here at Climate Garden, we aspire to teach elementary and middle school students about protecting the environment and the gratification that comes along with service. Through our workshops, we hope to inspire in our students a wake-up call to make a difference in this century.
WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER
Even though this climate crisis is demanding, the only way to get forward and succeed is to work together. We need to care for each other and work as a team as that is the only way to make societal change. At Climate Garden, we aim to create an atmosphere of love and creativity, where each member of our team can benefit from each other.
"You cannot have climate justice without racial justice. It isn't justice if it doesn't include everyone."
- Vanessa Nakate, climate activist
