Community Gardens as Safe Spaces!

As LNA prepares to open our community gardens this year, we are excited, but also concerned for many neighbors that are not safe right now due to the Minneapolis occupation by federal agents. It's sad when even the task of gardening comes with its own risks and safety concerns. Many of these same people have not been able to work and may have issues paying the garden plot fee. 

As we considered how to move forward, we reached out to last year's gardeners and asked for their thoughts and feelings. The overwhelming consensus was that people want to garden and they want to garden together! The sentiment that our community gardens offer a place of peace and joy is abundant.

To address the financial and safety concerns of our neighbors, LNA is hosting this fundraiser to support plot fees for our garden members who are being racially targeted by the federal government, and to dedicate additional staff time to creating a safer environment in the gardens this season.

Our fundraising goal is $3,000. As many of you know, LNA runs its gardens in a financial deficit (expenses outweighed revenue at a ratio of 19:1 in 2024), and we work hard to ensure that the gardens remain a priority each season.

Please know that if you donate here, your gift is tax-deductible and will be used to offset garden fees and support garden staff. Donating here is not the same as being selected to garden for the upcoming season and is not a replacement for every person's garden fees.