Community Wellness

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Build a community you want to be a part of. 

Garden Guides

Garden Guides are the front line and perfect embodiment of our mission at Unity Gardens. A Garden Guide meets each community member where they are at and can provide a unique experience ​to each visitor. Sometimes that can be as simple as  offering help picking collard greens for dinner that evening and sharing recipes. Other times, they are a resource to connecting not only to the garden but to nature overall through interactive tasting tours of the 7 acres of edible park we are so fortunate to occupy.
Our garden at 3701 Prast Blvd is staffed by garden guides from 8am to 8pm during the growing season!

Little Sprouts

Ever since the first seed at Unity Gardens was planted we have been working to connect the younger generations to their food system. By creating a space that is not just a garden but an edible park, we have been able to engage and excite kids on topics from how food grows to ways to utilize it in everyday eating. However, our impact on youth does not stop at growing greens; We are also growing confidence, kindness, and character. This is not a program that focuses on classes or series. It is for our local youth that find sanctuary in nature and providing acts of service. A daily chat or impromptu snowball fight that makes a lasting impression on the generations that are the future. 

Re-entry Engagement

The South Bend Community Re-entry Center is a program that provides incarcerated individuals who earn the opportunity to prepare for re-entry into society. The stewardship that the gentleman showcase knows no bounds. They created the Haircuts and Hotcakes program, volunteer at many of our special events, and volunteer every Tuesday at the garden. On those special Tuesdays we have a family style lunch with the volunteers to build relationships and break bread with one another.

Haircuts and Hotcakes

This exciting program creates a day that not only boosts the confidence of the local youth through free fresh haircuts but also creates an opportunity for the community to come together and spend quality time with one another. Barbers from the South Bend Community Re-entry center cut hair while volunteers prepare hotcakes and hotdogs to serve hot meals to our guests throughout the day! Kids spend time playing in the garden or with the toys in our welcome center. Adults chat and catch up with friends. It is a truly joyful community event.

Accessible Garden

In an effort to make greenspace accessible to all, our main garden has an accessible garden, with paved pathways, standing beds, wheelchair accessible beds, and an ADA accessible picnic table. Our driveway leads right up to the Welcome Center and this garden!

Sharing Area

In partnership with Cultivate Food Rescue, Clay Church Food Pantry, Great Harvest Bread Company, and more, we accept donations of food to share with our community! We have a sharing fridge, freezer, and shelf in our Welcome Center that is stocked through donations and open to all. Feel free to call our building (574-222-2266) to check what's available. We can accept donations of shelf stable items and produce!