GrowGood’s urban farm supports the largest homeless shelter on the West Coast
Our 1.5-acre urban farm, located across the street from The Salvation Army’s Bell Shelter, provides fresh fruit & vegetables for the 500 residents who call the shelter home.
By Andrea Clemett
Daily Titan
Nov 29, 2021
Excerpt:
This urban garden model could be replicated across Los Angeles and in other cities that are food deserts, where food scarcity is a problem and accessibility may be another factor, said Ashley Elliott who does brand partnership and community engagement for GrowGood.
The Bell Shelter is an example of a mixture of industrial and residential areas where people who come to the shelter may not have readily available options to farm style gardens or fresh produce, Elliott said.
“Farm to table is something that people don’t get a chance to really see up close and understand where their food comes from, what is the process, how easily it can be done locally and even in your own backyard,” Elliott said. “That’s what GrowGood is all about, is trying to inform.”
Elliott describes a twofold system that connects residents with nature while fostering growth in both their physical and mental well-being. Residents have diverse backgrounds and paths, some including substance abuse issues where they are going through the process of recovery and rehabilitation.
