At Operation Food Search, we work beyond emergency food distribution to strengthen the entire community food system. Our garden enables us to expand access to healthy food and serves as a shared space for us and our partners to exchange ideas, knowledge and resources. We call this work the OFS Garden Collective.
The OFS Garden Collective
The mission of the OFS Garden Collective is to grow and connect community through shared gardening knowledge, experience, and collaboration. OFS maintains the garden as a space to work with growing partners, farms, and like-minded organizations to increase access to locally-grown food.
Our stewardship model brings partner organizations on site to help maintain the garden and provide additional opportunities for collaboration. Odds & Ends Farm is our current steward, following our inaugural partner, EarthDance Organic Farm School.
The Collective serves as a cooperative network, at times providing resources in the form of seedlings, compost, and tools to food pantries and other partner organizations working on their own gardens. We learn from each other as we explore topics such as regenerative agriculture, sustainability, pest control, and food preservation.
The Barb Donohue Garden
Named in honor of a cherished volunteer and supporter of Operation Food Search, the Barb Donohue Garden features an array of diverse crops selected for nutritional value and seasonal abundance.
Fruiting plants and trees grow alongside vegetables and herbs. There are also pollinator-friendly perennials, rain gardens, bee hives, and native species that strengthen the garden’s ecosystem.
The garden’s grounds also serve as a peaceful space for staff and visitors to reflect and rejuvenate.
Growing Crops for the Community
Our garden is a thriving source of fruits, vegetables, and herbs cultivated to support individuals and families facing food insecurity. We distribute our harvest through OFS programs like Nutrition Access, Nourishing Healthy Starts and the OFS MetroMarket. Trusted community partners like Greater Health Pharmacy, LIV, and other local advocates expand our reach.
Within the garden, specialized spaces like the Nourshing Bed (inspired by our Nourishing Healthy Starts program) grow foods specifically beneficial for pregnant people: red raspberries, okra, celosia, and more.
Want to follow us as we grow? Visit @ofsgardencollective on Instagram.
Indoor Hydroponics
OFS’s indoor hydroponic system is an opportunity to explore an alternative growing method and provides another reliable source of fresh produce—helping our partners with an additional option to bring more healthy food to the communities they serve.
The indoor hydroponic system offers a year-round source of fresh produce that supplements both the outdoor garden and other food sources used by our programs and agency partners.
Want to learn more and get involved? Contact Garden@OperationFoodSearch.org
