Mim Michelove and Nan Sterman started the Grab & Grow Gardens Program to help people in their community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Food Deserts are also nursery deserts.”

We head to San Diego, California to chat with Mim Michelove and Nan Sterman, who share a love of growing food and involvement in food activism.

As unemployment in their community grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the local food supply became shaky, they decided to use their connections with commercial growers, in the community, and with social service agencies to help people feed themselves. The result was the Grab & Grow Gardens program.

Grab & Grow Gardens

The Grab & Grow Gardens kits contain two transplant-size vegetable seedlings in a carry bag, along with growing instructions in English and Spanish. “We do this in Mim’s backyard,” explains Sterman, as she talks about assembling the kits with a small army of volunteers.

Kits are distributed to those in need through hunger relief agencies, school districts, and affordable housing organizations.

At the time of the interview in February, 2021, they had distributed over 8,500 kits.

Initially, everything for the kits was donated. Securing donations of vegetable transplants was possible because they are located in an area with a large vegetable-transplant industry.

As demand for the kits grew, and as they were able to access grants and donations, they began to purchase seed, allowing them to choose the most suitable crops and varieties.

Tips for Launching Community Initiatives

Sterman and Michelove share their tips for successfully launching community initiatives. These include:

Work with agencies that are already distributing something to the people you want to reach.
Spread the word about what you want to do in your community; there will be others who want to help, but are not sure what to do.
Think about what you can do that will help the end user succeed.
Brainstorm resources in the community, including companies, individuals, and organizations—and then reach out.

“That’s where the power comes in, where you pull people in from all different levels.” Nan Sterman

Connect with Nan Sterman

Nan Sterman is the host of the TV show A Growing Passion, an author, a journalist, and a speaker. She has special expertise on gardening in very dry climates.

Website: waterwisegardener.com
Facebook: nan.sterman
Twitter: growingpassion
Instagram: agrowingpassion

Connect with Mim Michelove

Mim Michelove is CEO and President of Healthy Day Partners, which focuses on nourishing and healing people and planet through healthier food systems, ecological practices, and environmental education.