Ocean shores Growing Together

Ocean Shores is a small coastal city in Washington State with a population of approximately 6,000 residents.  A rural community, natural beauty surrounds Ocean Shores.  However, this same natural environment also isolates the community and like many rural communities, commercial businesses activity and community services are limited.  With the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic crisis, food security has been a point of stress for many in the Ocean Shores community and surrounding areas.  Early on in the crisis, the only large grocer began to see their food orders limited substantially.  The Growing Together project sought to help Ocean Shores residents to grow their own food in a manageable, barrier-free way, and supports anyone who wants to grow a garden at home.

Small  volunteer groups worked to build raised garden beds and these beds were sold to area residents on a "pay what you can basis."  Proceeds from the sales were then donated to a local charity.  Once launched the project partnered with a mutual-aid network, Ocean Shores Cares, Ocean Shores Garden Buddies, and Elk/Eagles members.  In addition, a local community member identified a seed supplier and a project logo was created.  Raised beds were then delivered with a variety of packaged seeds.