After seeing three different local businesses announcing a ‘Giving Garden flyer’ initiative in three days, 
I figured I better find out what all the excitement was about. If the White Bear Press, Sassafras Health Foods and Lake Country Booksellers all gave this idea space, I knew it was worth checking out.
Chris Harms has social activism running through his veins. Reading the book ‘Confronting Suburban Poverty in America’ lit a fire that is, thankfully, still burning strong. After reading the book, an existing friendship was a safe harbor for conversations that grew a mutual drive for inspiring community cohesiveness that seeks to discover core community values. Both he and Rolf Lowenberg-Deboer, he’s the friend who also has the green thumb, have worked in the nonprofit world for most of their careers. Working with the persistently mentally ill and homeless in the Minneapolis & St. Paul areas gave them a ‘street level’ understanding of the needs of our area. “The suburbs are different than the urban core,” says Harms, “ the same poverty is present, but is more camoflauged by societal perceptions of poverty and where it exists in suburban communities.”
And the needs of our neighbors are growing.
The Second Harvest Heartland website states,
“1 in 10 = The number of households in Minnesota affected by hunger. Hunger is an urban, suburban and rural problem.
There is no corner of the state where hunger does not exist.”
Chris was driven to make a social impact that went, “beyond politics, no matter who you voted for in the election; most everybody felt exhausted, beaten down by the campaign process.” This was a chance to empower himself and others.
Chris shared that he, “maintains the belief that people long for an experience in life and interpersonal connection that is genuine and authentic,” and he’s ready to help you dig in.
He researched other examples of giving gardens around the area, and after finding the Bemidji Community Food Shelf Farm, he was inspired to bring the garden to peoples’ homes in the form of raised garden beds. He also wanted to give people the recurring chance to physically touch and feel what they were doing to help others. He thinks it will serve as a good reminder of the issues, and a positive way to impact those issues.
Activism is for Everyone
Once the decision was made, many of the pieces for the Giving Garden dream came together naturally, from long-time friends to chance meetings. He started by garnering the support of a few local companies. Harms has gratefully received lumber commitments from Universal Forestry Products and Structural Wood Corporation, both in White Bear Lake and J.L. Schwieters Building Supply in Hugo. “In addition to the lumber commitments, Rehbein’s Black Dirt in Hugo will be providing high quality screened topsoil at a greatly reduced cost and no delivery charges,” Harms happily added. Kind of proud of that awesome support from our local companies. He is starting with 50 raised beds this summer.
With a solid agency like the White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf in the community, Chris knew where to find that partner. He’s been working with Lee Bailey-Seiler, the White Bear Area Food Shelf coordinator, on learning how to weigh and log the produce grown in the giving gardens.
