The Growing Experience is an urban farm in North Long Beach that aids the undeserved communities nearby.
Founded in 1996, the Growing Experience seeks to educate the community on sustainable and ethical food cultivation.
Their youth programs along with many other activities allow for community engagement and therefore reach as many people as possible.
For just $100 anyone can reserve a raised garden bed and grow their own produce.
In exchange for $100, one can donate 10 volunteer hours.
The Growing Experience is led by program manager Holly Carpenter who has worked for the Growing Experience since 2015 and oversees operations, special programs, social media, and grant-funded projects.
This urban farm grows fresh and healthy foods for the community while simultaneously educating on the importance of water-saving methods like drip irrigation and aquaponics.
All the proceeds earned from selling their fresh produce fund many community engagement activities such as the Youth Program, and the Juvenile Justice and Crime Prevention Act Program.
The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Program serves the community’s at-risk children and teens in an attempt to curb crime.
In the program, participants learn about agriculture, ecology, and sustainability as well as maintaining their own raised garden bed.
Long Beach City College, a partner with the Growing Experience and College to Career (C2C) program, are able to get hands-on experience for the horticulture program offered at LBCC.
In a time where convenience and speed are valued, Growing Experience shows the community the importance of organic, healthy food.