My name is Jaye Smith, and I am the founder of Black Girls Gardening in Containers (BGGC). BGGC is a community of Black women who love plants and gardening. Our Facebook community of over 72,000, is a welcoming haven where Black women feel seen, supported, and connected to the earth. On our website, (www.blackgirlsgardeningincontainers.com) we provide gardeners with up-to-date information on sustainable gardening.
Our mission is to increase access to fresh foods in urban food deserts and reduce the burden of food bills on families.
In spite of limited resources, our dedicated team has continued to organize events, build gardens, and run educational programs. We recently partnered with a non-profit organization for a community clean-up and garden planting event in Indianhead, MD, depending on supplies we got from donations. The community loved this initiative and it has made a difference in their quality of life.
We are currently hosting a "Glow and Grow" workshop to help children understand the importance of connecting food, culture and community. Gardening teaches children responsibility, self-confidence, and a deeper connection to nature.
Students learn to:
● Identify what plants need to thrive
● Understand plant families and companion planting
● Know when to start different plants for success
● Discover the role of pollinators and pests
● Harvest and store fruits, herbs, and vegetables and more
Our vision is to expand this workshop across multiple cities and help others start community gardens in their cities, sponsor workshops for Black women to connect and grow together and assist in funding projects for others who share the same vision.
Your donations will help us cover the start-up costs of our non-profit organization, Black Girls Gardening in Containers (BGGC).
This includes:
1. State Incorporation Fee: $75
2. P.O. Box Fee: $125
3. IRS 1023 Form Fee: $600
4. State Fundraising Application Fee: $100
5. Insurance: $1200
6. Logo/Website and Marketing: $500
TOTAL: $2600
Your donations will also support new community gardens and workshops teaching gardening and valuable life skills.
Thank you for making a difference!