The Big Garden

12/04/2024

Thank you to every single one of you that donated during Giving Tuesday! We are eternally grateful for your support, and cannot wait to continue making an impact in our community through teaching, building, and growing!

12/03/2024

Today is the day - It's Giving Tuesday!

Here's a note from our Executive Director, sharing all the exciting things that we have accomplished in 2024!

Let’s celebrate what we can do in just 24 hours; our biggest local giving day is here! Now's the time we ask you to donate to help us fight hunger in Omaha. Give now: ( https://shareomaha.org/donate?nonprofit=7765 ).

12/01/2024

At The Big Garden, we are Growing Food Sovereignty. Did you know...

In 2023, we started several hundred plants from our own heirloom and organic seeds, producing over 6,000 pounds of fresh, healthy produce that we donated to food banks, pantries, and shelters in the area to help feed our neighbors in need.

You can help us keep growing food sovereignty by donating to The Big Garden on December 3rd - Giving Tuesday! Early giving is now open! Give now at ( https://shareomaha.org/donate?nonprofit=7765 ) with donation code GIVINGTUESDAY to be counted among those taking action to Teach. Build. Grow!

11/29/2024

At The Big Garden, we are Building Communities. Did you know...

We have installed over 300 community gardens since 2005, and based on a survey last year, 92% of these gardens are still producing food for the communities they serve!

You can help us keep building community gardens by donating to The Big Garden on December 3rd - Giving Tuesday! Early giving is now open! Give now at ( https://shareomaha.org/donate?nonprofit=7765 ) with donation code GIVINGTUESDAY to be counted among those taking action to Teach. Build. Grow!

11/26/2024

At The Big Garden, we are Teaching People. Did you know...

If the kids are in school, our educators are hard at work. This means that our Education Team is hard at work 50 out of the 52 weeks in the year, creating engaging content, seeking out healthy snacks, and preparing hands-on activities for kids of all ages! Nearly 5,000 students are in our programs on an annual basis.

You can help us keep them going by donating to The Big Garden on December 3rd - Giving Tuesday! Early giving is now open! Give now at ( https://shareomaha.org/donate?nonprofit=7765 ) with donation code GIVINGTUESDAY to be counted among those taking action to Teach. Build. Grow!

11/15/2024

Our mighty educators had their hands full of cucumbers and vinegar this week!

🥒Their lessons this week were all about making Quick Pickles! Students got to chop cucumbers, garlic, and jalapenos (if they liked spicy) while learning the importance of canning.

What better way to enjoy homegrown veggies year-round?!

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Our educators have spent the week with their hands deep in pumpkin guts, helping students carve the perfect pumpkins! Students had the option to carve or to paint their gourds to their liking, all while learning proper knife skills!

We hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

10/22/2024

Amy and Sam had their hands full last week harvesting!

Look at all those beautiful radishes and GIANT sweet potatoes!

With a big cooking holiday coming up next month, we gotta know:

Sweet Potato Pie: 👍️Yay or 👎️Nay?

10/10/2024

Our campus has been filled with wonderful visitors this week, including a group of Duchesne volunteers!

The girls spent their morning helping harvest end-of-season peppers, pulling weeds, and planting cover crops as we prepare for winter!

Are you or your organization interested in coming out and volunteering some of your time to our mission? Fill out a contact form below and our Volunteer Coordinator, Kay, will reach out and get you going!

https://biggarden.org/in-a-garden

09/12/2024

We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone that donated to our tree removal fund.

Greenhouse update: We sustained damage in the plastic and some wood supports. We are pricing materials and are in process of replacing the greenhouse this fall.

We need to get the greenhouse back to operational as we plan on starting seeds for winter growing and even our plant sale.

To view ways you can continue to support The Big Garden, visit:

biggarden.org/support

09/10/2024

Look at this GIGANTIC watermelon! Caitlyn was out harvesting at our schools last week and managed to lug this big boy all the way back to campus to get weighed! Clocking in at ALMOST 37 POUNDS, this has got to be the biggest watermelon (Moon and Stars) we have ever gathered!

That very day, not only did she end the day with over 100lbs of watermelon, but her hard work tipped our harvest totals to over 2500 pounds to date!

Way to go, Caitlyn! What's the biggest thing you've harvested from your own garden?? Show us your pictures in the comments!

09/09/2024

Our education team is back in the classroom for another school year teaching urban agriculture in OPS elementary and middle schools!

They need your support for supplies used during our 43 weeks of programming, where we teach the skills to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare and preserve fresh, heathy produce.

Visit the link below to make a contribution to our educators today!

https://biggarden.org/support

08/14/2024

Our education team is growing, and we want you to join!

We are looking for eager learners who are passionate about teaching kids how to grow their own food. No gardening experience required!

In this role, you get to play a pivotal role in making sure kids learn all about gardening, cooking the food they grow, and so much more. You will get the opportunity to plan your curriculum to include hands-on activities, both in and out of the classroom.

For more information, visit

This is The Big Garden Mission & History Meet Our Team Volunteer In a Garden Employment Community Partners Reports EmploymentWORKING AT THE BIG GARDEN The Big Garden is an independent 501-c3 non-profit in Omaha, Nebraska. At The Big Garden, we grow healthy food, healthy kids, and healthy communities...

08/01/2024

Last night, we got hit with some pretty severe winds, some are saying they equated to a category 2 hurricane (but don't quote us on that!)

If you, like many in Omaha, have fallen branches, our friends over at Hillside Solutions have a way you can dispose of them without sending them to the landfill!

Check out more info below!

👏🏼 Do not landfill tree debris! 👏🏼
Our "Compost Club" program allows you to drop off as much tree debris as your little heart desires.
As Omaha's only eco-friendly waste management company, we'll turn the organic matter into valuable resources - soil, mulch & compost - right here. Yep! We own Nebraska's only industrial composting farm.
So, subscribe & join the party. Collect tree debris & drop them at our downtown site. Complete the loop by getting compost back + 20% off Soil Dynamics Products.
Go online & sign up: https://www.hillside.solutions/compostclub
Got a commercial site? Message us. We'll hook ya up!

07/31/2024

⚠️We have an emergency on our campus and need your help to prevent further damage. ⚠️

This spring, east Nebraska and west Iowa have experienced the most active tornado season on record. KMTV reports the total number of tornadoes for 2024 is at a record-breaking 66 tornadoes. The second highest tornado year was back in 2008 with a mere 46.

While we are eternally grateful that our greenhouses are still standing, there is now an imminent threat of trees collapsing directly onto our greenhouse. If we hope to continue operations, we need your assistance raising $5000 to hire a contractor to help remove this threat to our production. We fear that it will only take one strong windfall for the tree to collapse, and with the weather outlook just for tonight, we're all sitting on pins and needles.

Help us avoid a work-stopping disaster from happening on our campus by making a contribution today! Click the link below to help us reach our goal!

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/united-methodist-ministries-missouri-river-district/help-remove-threatening-trees

07/26/2024

🛑Time is up! 🛑

🎉Once again, thank you to every single one of you that took the time to participate in our first ever online silent auction (part 2!)

Winners will be contacted by the end of the day Monday to coordinate prize pickup!🗓️

07/26/2024

We can NEVER have too much UNO Swag - and the office of UNO Spirit, Tradition, and Signature Events has definitely come through for you! There are 4 different swag bundles for you to take home today!

Use this link (or scan the QR code) to see all of our remaining (and some new items): https://shorturl.at/MHkfv

PLEASE NOTE!
At time of payment, you DO NOT have to pay a 27% premium...just select the drop down box, Select "Custom" and enter 0 for the amount. That way, whatever you bid, is the price you will pay.

Winners will be contacted by Monday, July29th! Item pickup will be coordinated to be on our campus at 5602 Read Street.