Kenny Barrett, the co-founder of Growhouse Urban Agricultural Center, has been providing knowledge to his Downtown neighbors on how to grow food in the desert since 2008.
But up until then, Barrett had no experience growing his own food. His curiosity led him to learn more about growing food and creating a relationship with it as well.
Before starting Growhouse, Barrett said he didn’t even know what different vegetables looked like growing from the ground.
“Most people go to a supermarket, pick up produce and go home,” Barrett said. “You don’t think about the fact that your tomato took 90 days to grow from seed, as well as all of the water, manure, and materials necessary for each item to grow.”
Growhouse is a communal gardening space located in a once-vacant lot in the Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown Phoenix. Volunteers gather every Saturday to plant or harvest the produce.
These volunteers can take home fruits and vegetables, and the leftovers are sold weekly at the Community Exchange Table at the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market or taken to local restaurants like Carly’s Bistro.
Through their social media platform, Growhouse keeps their followers up to date on community events, garden days and even COVID-19.
Their social media accounts are filled with photos and videos of community volunteers, events that have taken place, produce, and more. Through these platforms, volunteers can find general information about the history of the garden and sign up schedules to volunteer.
Growhouse partners with Hands-On Greater Phoenix, a nonprofit volunteer management organization, to provide volunteers and resources to give back to local communities.
Due to COVID-19, Hands-On Greater Phoenix has implemented safety procedures for Growhouse volunteers and staff to ensure their safety while working together. These measures include signing an assumption of risk waiver, social distancing, and wearing a mask.
Growhouse accepts volunteers 18 or older without an adult, or 8 years old with the supervision of a parent or guardian. Pre-COVID, Growhouse allowed 30 volunteers, but now it has been limited to 10 volunteers for safety measures.
Growhouse Garden volunteers assist with prepping garden beds, planting, building structures, irrigating, watering and beautifying. All of this is done while working toward a common goal with family, friends and even strangers, as part of one greater community.
Many volunteers have taken inspiration from their time spent at Growhouse and created their backyard gardens.
“The simple act of going outside, working hard in the sun with your hands in the dirt alongside neighbors and meeting new people is truly one of the best things you can do for the soul,” Barrett said.
In 2019, Growhouse Urban Agricultural Center hosted its most recent 5th annual farm-to-table CultivEAT community dinner in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. CultivEAT brought together community members, artists, friends, business owners and residents to enjoy a locally-grown meal handcrafted by a local chef.
Proceeds from this event and others hosted by Growhouse went toward the cost of seeds, water, tools, and materials needed for the volunteers and also “furthering the Growhouse Garden’s efforts to create more urban agriculture and educational opportunities at the Growhouse,” said Growhouse’s CultivEAT Facebook page.
Growhouse has been the “dominant force” of community service in downtown Phoenix, while also successfully educating the community on how to sustainably garden in such a “complex Arizona environment,” volunteer Val Calloway said.
Barrett said he believes volunteering at Growhouse’s garden days is a great way to give back and connect with the downtown community. Garden days are free, take place weekly, and currently have COVID-19 safety rules based on Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
Contact the reporter at laquinla@asu.edu.
