Charitable Spotlight: GRuB

GRuB (which stands for Garden-Raised Bounty) is a favorite organization of our clients.  Based in Olympia, Washington, GRuB’s mission is growing healthy food, people, and communities.  GRuB has three main projects.  One of their efforts helps low income individuals and families build gardens thereby increasing their health, self-sufficiency, and food security.   Another project, Victory Farmers, brings veterans together to grow food for the community.  Lastly, youth programs teach farming, leadership, and academic skills to teens.

Grub builds gardens! GRuB builds about 40 gardens each year for low income individuals and families . With the enormous challenges people are facing this year, GRuB has built 120 gardens in 2020!  Since its inception in 1993, GRuB has built over 3,000 gardens.  A GRuB project usually consists of three 4’ x 8’ raised beds.  All materials and labor are free to those whose incomes are less than 185% of the poverty level.  Once the garden has been constructed, garden recipients are paired with mentors who teach gardening skills and organic gardening techniques.

GRuB helps veterans. Victory Farmers is a program for active duty service members and veterans.  Veterans often struggle with integrating into communities and transitioning to civilian life which contributes to high rates of divorce, poverty, and suicide.   Victory Farmers and the Victory Farm provides training on gardening skills, volunteer opportunities, and a support network.  Located in Lacey, the Victory Farm grows fresh produce for the Thurston County Food Bank’s Lacey location.

GRuB teens learn gardening. On GRuB’s youth run vegetable farm, teens in the GroundED program learn how to grow food while working towards their GEDs.  Additionally, they have field trips, learn about wild foods and medicines, and prepare healthy meals with ingredients fresh from the farm!  The farm sits on 3 acres and grows up to 15,000 pounds of food per year.  About half of the harvest is distributed through their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture – a program where each week a share of the harvest is distributed to subscribers).  The other half is donated to local food banks and other organizations that support people who are food insecure.

To find out more about GRuB or assist their mission, visit their website:  https://www.goodGRuB.org/