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Grow Food. Cultivate Community. Protect The PLanet

Grow Food. Cultivate Community. Protect the Planet. 
Nourishing Gardens transforms lawns in and around Howard County into ecologically beneficial growing spaces. What does that mean? We take lawns of homes, businesses, community organizations, and schools and transform them into gardens that nourish people, our community, and nature.
OUR OFFERINGS​
School & Community Gardens
Through generous grants from our funders, we have been able to provide and support over 30 teaching gardens for local schools and our community.
Home & Business - Garden Education & Support
We help you steward your land through consultation, planning, installation, and limited maintenance support of food and pollinator gardens that replace an area of lawn, increase biodiversity, and nourish our families and communities.
School & Community Education
​CEI’s experienced staff provide educational programming for classes and school events, which has included topics such as garden design, planting for pollinators, from seed to food, seasonal planting, and caring for your garden.
Community Education & Workforce Development
​CEI’s experienced staff provide training programs and workshops as an opportunity for community members to develop their knowledge and hands-on experience in ecologically beneficial gardening practices as well as workforce development opportunies that create a pathway to green infrastructure jobs.
The Problems We’re Solving
  • Food Insecurity. ​According to Feeding America, nearly 25,000 Howard County residents experience periods of food insecurity.
  • Air Pollution. It’s estimated that the average meal in the U.S. travels up to 1,500 miles before it reaches a family’s table. In addition, millions of gallons of gas are consumed during yard maintenance each year.
  • Resource preservation. Lawns consume trillions of gallons of water each year and produce little in the way of nourishment for the families who tend them.
  • Stormwater runoff. ​Millions of pounds of herbicides and pesticides are applied to lawns and ultimately contribute to the pollution of streams and rivers.
  • Pollinator support. Lawns offer little in the way of habitat for pollinators and wildlife that are necessary for a healthy local ecosystem.
  • ​Employment opportunities. Nearly 12,000 neighbors are struggling to find employment in Howard County.​
  • Community support. Lawns make up as much as 75% of green space in urban areas, but provide little ecological or nutritional benefit to communities.​
How we got started - our pitch video for the Howard County Changemaker Challenge from Fall of 2021:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Nourishing Gardens in the Community:

Get involved - CEi's educational opportunities

Student Internships
Students between the ages of 14 and 21 years old who are interested in experiential education and work experience across a range of social and ecological themes.
Nourishing Gardens
This program is suitable for adults 21+ who are interested in learning about replacing turf and developing gardens that will nourish their family, community, and nature. Home and community gardeners and those considering a career in gardening are encouraged to apply.
Regenerative Agriculture
CEI aims to offer periodic workshops and trainings in regenerative agriculture as well as volunteer opportunities at Freetown Farm and the Green Farmacy Garden geared toward adults who are interested in regenerative ag and/or farming.