Community Businesses Come Together to Make an Impact

Last year, Carlton County Public Health kicked off a project to address access to healthy foods and was able to distribute 300 pounds of locally grown produce to the community. The project’s success inspired them to multiply its impact.

This year, 14 businesses and organizations across Carlton County stepped forward as garden host sites, partnering with SHIP to expand the project.

Each new host site strengthens a growing network of businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations working together to improve the health of their neighbors.

Through a Community Innovation Grant from Medica, public health was able to provide each host site with a raised garden bed, soil, plants, and seeds. 

This modest investment was key to transforming a successful pilot into a countywide effort, giving local organizations the tools and resources to turn a shared vision into lasting action. 

By removing the financial barriers to starting a garden, the Community Innovation Grant allows the host sites to focus on nurturing the crops. In return, participating organizations have agreed to share the produce they grow with community members at no cost for at least the next three years, laying the foundation for lasting partnership.

Each host site then determines how to distribute its harvest, allowing for a localized approach that meets people where they are. Some organizations opted for “pick-your-own” gardens, with raised beds directly accessible to the public to take what they need. 

A few host sites chose to distribute produce directly to people they already serve - including four childcare centers and a Senior living facility - while others will grow produce for one of several free produce stands located throughout the County.

These Free Produce Stands are located at the Cloquet Community Garden (1000 Washington Ave, Cloquet, MN) the Carlton County Community Services Building (14 N 11th St, Cloquet, MN) and the Master Gardener Little Food Pantry (20 Earl Ellens Dr, Moose Lake, MN). 

Together, these approaches are helping ensure that children, older adults, families, and other community members across Carlton County can access fresh produce in ways that best meet the needs of their neighbors.

This countywide effort was made possible by the commitment of local businesses and organizations including United Way, the Greenhouse, Carlton County Fair, Little B’s Childcare Center, Essentia Hospital Moose Lake, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Li’l Lumberjacks Learning Center, Li’l Thunder Learning Center, Northern Huddle Photography, Community Memorial Hospital, Tri-Community Food Shelf, Evergreen Senior Living, and Tender Roots Childcare. 

United Way of Carlton & Pine County further strengthened the effort by mobilizing Day of Action volunteers to build every raised garden bed while the Greenhouse provided horticultural expertise and delivered soil to each host location. 

As these gardens grow and mature over the next three years and beyond, we envision a community where healthy food is not a luxury, but a shared community right, accessible to all who live and work in Carlton County.

The greatest harvest from these gardens won't be measured only in pounds of produce, but in the people and organizations who continue investing in their communities long after the seeds are planted.

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