Tucked beside Brighton NC Machine off Whitmore Lake Road, Gleaners’ Victory Garden is a hidden gem of Livingston County, and its impact is felt across the community. Each season, Gleaners’ staff and volunteers tend to dozens of rows of organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs, all destined for donation.
Thanks to their efforts last year, 2,350 pounds of free produce reached families throughout Livingston County via Gleaners’ Shared Harvest Pantry and Fresh Market—our client-choice pantry and mobile distribution site located in Howell—and on 11 local produce carts strategically placed throughout the county.
“People get really excited about what we put out on the carts,” said Victory Garden Coordinator Nick Passiak. “We don’t supply all the produce our guests get from Shared Harvest Pantry, but we try to supplement it with interesting stuff like eggplant, hot peppers, and different kinds of squash.”
Beyond providing fresh produce, the Victory Garden serves an educational purpose. “Some volunteers have never pulled a carrot from the ground before,” Nick explained. “It’s cool to give people the opportunity to learn about organic farming and get hands-on experience.”
The site includes a compost station where weeds and food scraps are transformed into fertile soil, an outdoor sink for washing the produce before it’s transported, and covered picnic tables where volunteers can work comfortably and connect with one another.
The Victory Garden is more than just a plot of land for growing food—it’s a testament to what we can achieve together. With every row of fresh produce and every hand that helps tend the soil, we’re proving that building a stronger, healthier community is worth getting a little dirt on your knees.
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