Community Connectors

Our Community Connectors program helps enhance and establish local neighborhood gardens, while supporting families in growing culturally-significant food close to home.

Community Connectors provide support to 7 local community gardens in Northfield and Faribault, serving 125 local families. Connectors liaise with their local communities to connect interested farmers & gardeners seeking land with the Sharing Our Roots Farm or to our established neighborhood gardens near where they live.

Through access to growing space and educational tools, Community Connectors are advancing local food security and sovereignty in our region.

Sharing Our Roots supports
community gardens in:

    • Viking Terrace Mobile Home Park

    • Greenvale School Community Garden

    • Greenvale Place Apartments Garden

    • St. Dominic’s Community Garden

    • Sharing Our Roots Farm Community Garden

    • Cannon River Park Community Garden

    • Health Finders Clinic Garden

    • Faribault Rotary Community Garden

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Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Three dynamic women (originally from Mexico and Kenya) serve as our Community Connectors. They are trusted neighbors working on the frontlines of food insecurity across Rice County.

    Connectors liaise with their local communities to connect farmers seeking land with the Sharing Our Roots Farm or to our established neighborhood gardens near where they live.

    To contact our Connectors, check out our Team page.

  • Connectors provide technical assistance, trainings, and resource support to increase food access and food sovereignty in our communities.

    This can include:

    • Building partnerships with property managers, city officials, and other nonprofits

    • Helping develop guidelines for gardens

    • Recruiting, allocating and overseeing available garden plots

    • Providing technical assistance to growers for pest control

    • Coordinating management and upkeep of garden spaces

    • Donating seeds and plants to growers

    • Coordinating the delivery of compost and materials

  • To find out what garden plots are available, please reach out to Antonio (Program Manager) at antonio@sharing-our-roots.org.

  • Multigenerational families use garden plots to grow their own food for home consumption or for sale.

  • "For me, this program has been a wonderful experience. I really enjoy being in communication with my whole neighborhood, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity."

    -Erika, gardener

  • "I like to grow plants, see the harvest, and eat fresh food - that is my favorite hobby. When I’m growing plants, I like to interact with people and share ideas about they know, because I like to learn more.”

    -Jose, gardener

  • "“I love to see my managu, chinsaga, and corn grow. I meet other gardeners and we share about how our plants are doing and learn new skills and updates from home because we come from the same country.”

    -Teresa, gardener