Grantee Spotlight: Williamsburg Community Growers
By: WHF Staff
Williamsburg Community Growers (WCG) is more than a community garden; it also serves as an educational destination for local schools and contributes fresh, locally grown, organic produce for hunger-relief organizations in Greater Williamsburg.
WCG, located on an 11-acre site near Warhill Sports Complex, has transformed the easement underneath Dominion Energy’s powerline into an integral part of Williamsburg’s fresh food ecosystem. What began as a small community garden in 2016 with 15 plots has grown into a flourishing seven-acre farm with nearly 110 community garden plots, a two-acre teaching farm, open space, constructed wetlands, apiary (beehives), and a mulching/composting area.
Education
WCG cultivates a healthier community through their various education programs, health promotion initiatives, and sustainable gardening workshops. In partnership with schools and local organizations, WCG offers hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages. These programs cover lessons on sustainable farming practices, environmental conservation, and healthy eating habits. Additionally, WCG offers free workshops covering a multitude of topics, including composting, pest management, food preservation, and home gardening, allowing the broader community to benefit from their wealth of knowledge.
Feeding the Community
Local volunteers work side by side with Joseph Carlin, the Farm Manager, to grow fresh produce, much of which is donated to local food banks, including Grove Christian Outreach Center, St. Olaf Catholic Church’s Food Pantry, and Williamsburg House of Mercy. With the increasing price of fresh produce making healthy eating a challenge for many families, the fruits and vegetables donated by WCG help to offset grocery costs and increase access to nutritious, high-quality food. In 2024 alone, the garden produced over 13,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables and donated over 8,000 pounds of produce to local organizations serving Greater Williamsburg area families in need.
In addition to donating fresh produce to local organizations, WCG also operates a weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. For 24 weeks each year, individuals can purchase a share of the farm’s harvest, including various seasonal fruits and vegetables. The CSA proceeds support the farm’s operations, including WCG’s fresh produce donations.
WHF’s Grant Support
WCG’s work aligns with WHF’s Strategic Plan by targeting behavioral and social risk factors that influence the health of individuals throughout the life span by increasing access to healthy eating opportunities. WHF has supported WCG’s work to improve Williamsburg’s healthy food ecosystem through four grants totaling over $200,000 since 2021. To learn more about WCG’s programs, community garden plots, CSA, and upcoming free classes, visit https://www.growwilliamsburg.org/. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Williamsburg Health Foundation (WHF) is an independent private health foundation with the mission to collaborate, innovate, and invest to impact systems that improve the health and well-being of individuals living in Greater Williamsburg. The Foundation was established in September 1996 when the Williamsburg Community Hospital and Sentara developed an affiliation agreement and later merged. This agreement included a provision for a new, locally organized, and managed Foundation to benefit community health. Since inception, WHF has awarded over $110 million in grants to improve community health and well-being.