pantry location: 1000 E. 11th st. Lawrence, KS 66046
pantry hours: tuesday & thursday 9am - 6pm | wednesday & friday 9am - 3pm
Exciting news!
We're expanding our garden to better serve our community!
Thanks to generous donations from Tito's Handmade Vodka & DCCF,
our garden is growing and offering more to our community.
Scroll on to learn more!
just grow
WHAT IS JUST GROW?
Just Grow is our community garden initiative designed to empower individuals to grow their own food while fostering a space for learning and personal growth. Each year, we offer free garden plots at our location, 1000 E. 11th Street, to those who lack access to gardening space and are committed to maintaining an active garden. The produce harvested provides fresh, healthy food to our gardeners and their families, with any excess donated to the pantry for our clients. In addition to the garden plots, we offer classes and activities focused on growing your own food, as well as exploring native edible plants and herbs, all led by our knowledgeable staff and professional gardeners.
WHO IS JUST GROW FOR?
Just Grow is open to anyone who wants to grow their own food but lacks the proper space. We operate under a "use it or lose it" policy for garden plots to ensure that the spaces are used by individuals who are committed to active gardening. These garden plots also support our pantry's mission to provide fresh food to our clients. All of our Just Grow classes and activities are open to everyone, and we encourage participation from all ages. Children are welcome when accompanied by a supervising adult!
UPCOMING CLASSES: MAY 2025
As we work on the expansion of our community garden, classes will be paused. Classes will resume in May!
​
About the Just Food
Community Garden Expansion:
At Just Food, our mission is to empower individuals and families to grow their own food, cultivate healthy eating habits, and foster a deeper connection to the land. Through our community garden, we provide access to fresh, healthy food and offer a space for learning and community building. As we expand our garden, we aim to increase access to gardening opportunities, further strengthen our commitment to sustainability, and deepen our impact on the community.
What the expansion means for the community:
With the expansion of the Just Grow garden, we will increase the number of available garden plots, allowing more community members to grow their own food. The expansion will also include ADA-accessible beds to ensure that individuals with mobility limitations can participate in gardening. Additionally, a dedicated outdoor classroom will offer hands-on gardening education for people of all ages and skill levels, providing valuable knowledge to grow food sustainably. This expanded garden will continue to support our local food pantry, with several beds dedicated exclusively to pantry production, ensuring that fresh, healthy produce is available to those in need.
Inclusive and accessible gardening:
To ensure that all community members can take part in gardening, the expanded garden will include ADA-accessible raised garden beds. These beds are designed to be accessible to individuals with mobility limitations, offering a comfortable and inclusive space for everyone to grow their own food.
Educational opportunities for all:
The expansion will also bring new educational opportunities for community members. Through our outdoor classroom, we will host gardening workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and classes on topics ranging from soil health to sustainable growing practices. These sessions are designed to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to grow their own food at home.
Supporting local food security:
As part of our expansion, several garden beds will be dedicated exclusively to producing food for the Just Food pantry. These beds will help provide a steady supply of fresh, nutritious produce for individuals and families facing food insecurity in our community. By growing and donating food locally, we continue to strengthen our commitment to food justice and ensure that everyone has access to healthy, locally grown food.