Athens, OH – Community Food Initiatives (CFI) will host their annual Plant Start Garden Giveaway Wednesday, May 15, and Thursday, May 16, at two Athens County locations.  This garden giveaway event is free and open to the public, and will take place at the times and locations listed below: 

Wednesday, May 15, 5pm-7pm: Athens ACEnet, 94 Columbus Road, Athens, OH

Thursday, May 16, 5pm-7pm: Nelsonville ACEnet, 296 S. Harper St., Nelsonville, OH

Community Food Initiatives hosts garden giveaways every year as part of their mission to increase regional food security by supporting equitable access to healthy, locally grown food. Recipients are invited to join the Grow and Share Team by sharing a portion of your harvest with the Donation Station. CFI will have planting instructions available at the giveaway. 

The plant start giveaway is supported in part by Jackson Area Ministries, an organization based in Jackson, OH, that coordinates a large donation of tomato plant starts.  Other generous donors and supporters that make this event possible include United Plant Savers, Companion Plants, Echoing Connections, the OHIO Student Farm, many community Plant Parents, and ACEnet.  If you have plant starts you would like to donate to CFI, please call 740-593-5971.    

CFI’s programs include the Donation Station, School Gardens, Community Gardens, Veggie Van, and Nourishing Networks community training and support. These initiatives support an equitable local food system that is good for people, planet, and our economy.  CFI programs and community collaborations work toward a resilient and sustainable region where everyone is nourished by a just, inclusive, and thriving local food system. For opportunities to get involved please email cfi@communityfoodinitiatives.org.