Get Fresh
The gardening project to evoke social change
Fresh Start.
Fresh Food.
Get Fresh.
The new Get Fresh Gardening project was established to connect women in reentry with nature and the autonomy of starting and running their own businesses.
Through this program, participants gain critical skills for sustaining themselves while securing greater future stability.
The program also benefits the community by providing fresh foods to the surrounding areas and keeping the neighborhood safe by reducing recidivism.
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Connection & Education
Providing formerly incarcerated women with connections to nature and giving them the skills, opportunity, and training necessary to launch and sustain a business. are essential goals for the Get Fresh program.
Equally important, the Get Fresh program exposes a population of women that are typically excluded from opportunities to have a positive impact on the community and the autonomy of starting and running their own businesses.
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Self-Sufficiency
Growing your own fresh fruits and vegetables screams self-sufficiency. Independence is a primary goal of the Welcome Home SIS program. Through the development of the garden, residents in our SAFE House gain critical skills for sustaining themselves and are better equipped in securing their future stability.
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Health
Incarcerated individuals have limited access to nutritious meals. Prison food is typically high in carbohydrates, fats and is processed. Add to that a lack of adequate exercise and it is not uncommon for residents to be in very poor health upon arrival at the SAFE House, making her health a top priority.
Acquiring healthy eating habits by having fresh foods readily available becomes second nature with the Get Fresh program. This experience will improve her health and is likely to have a lifelong impact on her overall well-being.
Livestock!
In 2022, we introduced livestock to the Get Fresh program. Raising living breathing animals from babies teaches responsibility, compassion, and empathy in a population that is stigmatized as otherwise.
These animals are for companionship. The only thing eaten are their eggs. They will never be killed for meat, sold, or discarded. Pets are forever.
Social Enterprise
The Get Fresh program, also serves as an income-generating social enterprise. The participants will be responsible for cultivating and harvesting produce and herbs in the on-site garden. From seed germination to preserving their product and ultimately choosing how to market it, participants are hands-on every step of the process.
It is hard for most returning citizens to find employment due to their criminal records. Starting their own business is even more difficult. Employment, independence, and other accomplishments are crucial factors in determining how women in reentry will be perceived by society and subsequently accepted or rejected.
✔ Gardening & Harvesting
✔ Canning & Preserving
✔ ServSafe Training
✔ Small Business Regulations & Laws
✔ Marketing
✔ Sales
Come Grow with Us!
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VOLUNTEER
Do you have a green thumb? Do you have a knack for canning or preserving foods?
Sign up to be one of our valuable volunteers today.
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PROVIDE SUPPLIES
Cultivating a successful garden takes a lot of supplies through every season.
Check out our online wishlist for our current garden needs.
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DONATE
Your donation is a huge step forward in helping the lives of women.
Please consider making a tax deductible donation today.
When she thrives,
we all thrive.
Our Journey
