FARM AND GARDEN
Farm-to-table for all
Down the road from our Food Bank, Good Cheer’s very own 1.25-acre farm is buzzing with life! Every season, our staff and volunteers grow a rainbow of fresh, local produce so neighbors can enjoy healthy fruits and veggies straight from the soil. Using organic, no-till practices, our farm yields more than 17,000 pounds of nutritious food each year.
In our front yard, our Collaborative Garden, powered by volunteers, grows flowers and other plants to brighten our Food Bank.
Our Collaborative Garden.
Our Collaborative Garden is a cozy, volunteer-powered garden right in our front yard! It’s a space for growing fresh produce and flowers, and also a place for learning, hands-on education, and exploring the joys of gardening together.
Our Farm.
At this site, affectionately known as the “Big Acre,” we grow a colorful mix of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that stock our Food Pantry year-round. We’ve been lucky to rent this land from the South Whidbey School District since 2015.
Our Farming Practices
Our two growing sites are cared for with intention: balancing good stewardship of the land with growing fresh, healthy food for our community. Thanks to our mild climate, we can grow crops year-round and bring in fresh harvests every week.
We focus on soil health and replenishing the land. By adding compost, cover crops, and other natural amendments, we give back to the soil more than we take. We use low-till methods to protect the soil ecosystem, improve water retention, and increase organic matter by using tarps to decompose plant residue instead of tilling. We use organic and regenerative practices, nurturing the soil by keeping it covered with living roots, enriching it with manure, avoiding leaving bare soil exposed, and planting a rich diversity of crops. We keep the work hands-on with simple tools and lots of dedication from our staff and volunteers.
What We Grow
Each year, we create a crop plan to guide what we plant, when, and where, helping us maximize variety and abundance across our gardens. Our fields and orchards are full of life, producing fresh, healthy food for our neighbors year-round. We grow leafy greens, vibrant vegetables, fragrant herbs, orchard fruits, and flowers, creating a colorful, thriving landscape that nourishes both people and pollinators alike.
Every harvest reflects the care of our staff, volunteers, and community. By growing such a diverse mix of crops, including perennials, we support healthy soil, a resilient farm ecosystem, and a steady supply of fresh food to the food bank. Our gardens are a living testament to what’s possible when people, land, and community come together.
Our Journey
From the very beginning, we have been rooted in care for each other. What started as a volunteer-driven project grew from the belief that every neighbor deserves nutrient-dense, delicious food and a welcoming space to connect.
Each person who contributes, through time, tools, seeds, or support, adds their own mark to the garden, creating growing sites that are living reflections of our community. We give to the soil, and the soil gives back to us in return.
The Collaborative Garden in front of the food bank was installed in 2008, sparking weekly volunteer work parties, monthly potlucks, and community pizza parties in our cob oven, where neighbors and staff work and celebrate together. Our Farm, established in 2016, has become a thriving resource for the community and the primary production site for our food pantry.
We love hosting school, business, and community groups for hands-on learning in our farm and garden. During your visit, you’ll enjoy an educational tour followed by some time volunteering alongside our team, helping us grow food for the community while learning about sustainable farming in action.
Please note: all visits include both the tour and a volunteer activity. We can’t wait to welcome you to the farm!