Expanding access to fresh vegetables for Galveston households while creating verdant outdoor spaces for the community
Our Victory Gardens Program (VGP) builds and maintains vibrant vegetable gardens at partner sites across Galveston. Born from the urgent need to address rising food insecurity during the 2020 pandemic, these Victory Gardens are part of Groundswell’s larger strategy to increase fresh vegetable access for locals as well as usable greenspaces.
Every year, thousands of pounds of vegetables are harvested from VGP and distributed for free to the demographic served by each partner site: local families, Galveston residents, unhoused individuals & beyond.
Our Garden Sites
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Moody Early Childhood Center
Our pilot site was Moody Early Childhood Center. 12 raised beds grow vegetables year-round for the families and staff of MECC.
Harvest distribution rotates between the different MECC age groups/classes, and parents & MECC staff are our primary volunteers!
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McGuire Dent Recreation Center in Menard Park
In 2021, we partnered with the City of Galveston to break ground on this beloved public garden that is used at all hours of the day!
Adjacent to McGuire Dent Recreation Center in Menard Park, this garden is in the same spot as a previous garden–we collaborated with City staff to give the space new life as a food-producing green sanctuary in a busy public park.
The harvests from this garden are distributed free to members of the community!
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Galveston Central Church
In 2024, we built a garden on the Galveston Central Church grounds in 2024 to support their ministry for the unhoused. We align with GCC’s commitment to serving all people of Galveston.
“…Our garden & the dynamic services offered by [Groundswell] have been a tremendous asset in promoting healthy eating and integrative education for our young children.”
— Karin Miller, Executive Director, Moody Early Childhood Center
