St. Cloud Mayor Jake Anderson proclaimed Sept. 25 as St. Cloud State University Community Garden Day last month in front of over 100 community members who joined together to celebrate the garden’s 20th anniversary.
“(We) extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Tracy Ore, St. Cloud State University, volunteers and community partners for twenty years of service and stewardship,” Anderson said in the proclamation. “The garden has fostered deep connections between people and the land, providing hands-on growing experiences while preserving cultural traditions and serving as an invaluable educational resource integrated into over 15 academic departments.”
Ore, a professor of sociology at SCSU, started the garden in 2005. In the past two decades the garden has consulted with over 50 organizations nationwide and received national and international recognition for its work, and the garden currently has over 100 active community partners.
Everything is shared in the SCSU Community Garden — proving that a community garden can be successful without individual plots.
“We’ve learned that the most radical thing we can do is create a space where people belong to something larger than themselves,” Ore said. “Where showing up matters. Where the simple act of growing food together becomes a quiet revolution that ripples outward, inspiring others to plant their own seeds of possibility.”
The garden welcomes volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, creating a space where children learn, families build memories and neighbors can connect in meaningful ways.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the garden became an especially vital space where people could safely gather outdoors and find connection when they needed it most.
The garden has produced tens of thousands of pounds of food over 20 years, partnering with organizations like the Huskies Food Pantry to address food insecurity. It also supplies fresh produce to local restaurants including Jules Bistro, Korppi Coffee and Bakeshop, and The Kitchen at Copper Pony.
It has also served as a model for sustainable community development and inspired community gardens worldwide.
Visit the Community Garden website for more details on how to get involved.
