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Umatilla County: building connection through culture and community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Umatilla County, Seed to Supper reached an important milestone this year: the first Spanish-language class offered in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Facilitated by volunteer Rocio Arias Hansen, the class brought together 17 participants, with 15 completing the program. Participants ranged in age from 19 to over 70 and traveled from Hermiston, Umatilla and the Tri-Cities area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll participants were Hispanic,\u201d Rocio shared. \u201cAnd yes, this is the first time this course has been offered in Spanish through our Eastern region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program was deeply rooted in partnership. The Migrant Education Program and the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides provided classroom space, helped recruit participants and contributed food and raffle prizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am very grateful for their unconditional support,\u201d Rocio said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur culture deeply values gathering and spending time together \u2014 this is about more than gardening.\u201d <\/p>\u2014Rocio Aria Hansen<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The response from participants was clear: they wanted more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey would like more hours to cover the topics in greater depth, more hands-on classes, and additional trainings like this one,\u201d she said. \u201cThere were also many messages of appreciation for the program and for the opportunity to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what stood out most was what happened beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo maintain the group\u2019s enthusiasm, I reached out to the community garden coordinator to request space where participants can continue meeting,\u201d Rocio explained. \u201cStarting after the second week of May, we will meet once a week to check on our plants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added, \u201cOur culture deeply values gathering and spending time together, and this will be a great opportunity to strengthen that sense of connection and foster unity within the group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Rocio, the experience was transformative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI believe this is just the beginning of something very important for our Hispanic community. They clearly demonstrated both interest and need, which motivates me to continue this work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Jackson County, the program is taking place in a very different setting \u2014 but with the same core purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Classes are being held at Rogue Retreat sites, including The Crossings, serving people who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity and working toward stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Facilitator and Master Gardener Program Coordinator Grace Florjancic described the environment as one of support and rebuilding: \u201cPeople are working to reconnect with family, find jobs and secure housing. This class becomes part of that journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program is designed with intention, adapting to the realities of participants\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, lessons include recipes that don\u2019t require cooking \u2014 recognizing that not everyone has access to a kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re really interested in things like microgreens and sprouts,\u201d Grace said. \u201cAnd we\u2019re focusing on foods that are fresh, simple and accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis class becomes part of people\u2019s journey toward stability.\u201d<\/p>\u2014Grace Florjancic<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Each session includes shared meals, often using Food Hero recipes, creating space for conversation and connection alongside learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The physical space also supports hands-on learning, with raised garden beds, classroom areas and even an outdoor kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice that with the great structure of the program, it\u2019s also customizable to what the class may be most interested in, or specific to their needs,\u201d Grace said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants are actively engaged \u2014 planting peas and spinach, exploring soil and composting, and building knowledge they can use right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got an excited crew,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Josephine County, demand for Seed to Supper exceeded expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe shot for a class of 18, but we got 31 \u2014 not counting the kids,\u201d shared facilitator and Master Gardener volunteer Isaiah Davidson. \u201cWe have about 35 people total.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recruitment was intentional and direct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI got in my truck one day and brainstormed: housing services, food access points, women\u2019s shelters, check cashing places \u2014 where do people go who need this?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result was a diverse group of participants, many connected through social services or court-mandated programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the response?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEverybody loves it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program has been supported by strong community partnerships, including donations from local businesses providing compost, materials and plant starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants who didn\u2019t have space to garden were given access to raised beds, including newly renovated community garden plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe took a community garden that needed help and created space for students to grow,\u201d Isaiah explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe asked: where do people go who need this? And we went there.\u201d<\/p>\u2013Isaiah Davidson<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The impact doesn\u2019t stop when the classes end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be there all summer,\u201d he said. \u201cShowing up once a week so people can ask questions and keep learning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Isaiah, who completed Master Gardener training in 2023, the experience has been deeply personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a learning experience \u2014 I\u2019ve never done this before. But as the weeks go on, I get better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the need is clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking at running it twice a year, based on the demand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Columbia County, a simple shift led to the biggest Seed to Supper turnout the program has ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Master Gardener coordinator Janhvi Pandey and her team have long focused on making the program accessible by offering classes in five locations \u2014 St. Helens, Scappoose, Vernonia, Rainier and Clatskanie \u2014 reducing the need for participants to travel long distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe goal is simple: make the program easy to access by bringing it closer to where people live,\u201d Janhvi shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, they made one key change. Instead of separate flyers and registrations for each site, Janhvi created a single, combined flyer with all class schedules and one registration link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did it just to streamline everything,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it turned out to be a big hit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result was their highest participation ever \u2014 79 registrations, far exceeding expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants were also given flexibility to attend sessions at different locations if needed, making it easier to stay engaged throughout the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strong partnerships continue to be at the heart of the program. This year, collaborations included local food banks in St. Helens and Rainier, the Scappoose Public Library, Clatskanie Farmer Collective, Community Action Team and local churches. These partnerships helped reach more people and provide additional support, including gardening supplies, plant sale coupons and a class from Certified Master Food Preservers on how to use and preserve what participants grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey made it feel like I can do it,\u201d one participant shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others described the course as \u201ceasy to understand and follow along \u2014 even with literally no experience,\u201d and appreciated the practical handouts and resources that made gardening feel achievable. Across evaluations, participants reported increased confidence and a strong intention to grow their own food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe class didn\u2019t want it to end \u2014 so we extended it.\u201d<\/p>\u2014Janhvi Pandey<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n At each site, hands-on learning has been a highlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In St. Helens, participants have been germinating seeds and tending early crops \u2014 including a surprising success with strawberries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStrawberries can be difficult from seed, so I warned the class we might not see success,\u201d the facilitator said. \u201cBut here we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Rainier, participants didn\u2019t want the program to end after six weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe class didn\u2019t want it to end,\u201d the facilitator shared. \u201cSo we extended it by two additional weeks to spend more time in the garden.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Janhvi, these moments reflect what makes Seed to Supper so impactful: removing barriers, meeting people where they are, and building confidence through shared learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year\u2019s changes made the program more connected, more flexible and more accessible \u2014 and the response from the community shows just how much that matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across all of these stories, a few things stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seed to Supper is not just a gardening program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 a bridge to community It is also a program shaped by the people who lead it \u2014 volunteers, staff and partners who are deeply committed to meeting communities where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And in 2026, with new tools, expanded content and growing partnerships, that impact is only increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Rocio said, \u201cThis is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Across Oregon, something powerful is happening in gardens, classrooms and community spaces. The Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Seed to Supper program continues to grow \u2014 not just in numbers, but in depth, reach and impact. In 2026, the program is evolving in meaningful ways, while staying rooted in its purpose: helping people who … <\/p>\nJackson County: meeting people where they are<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Josephine County: responding to need with creativity and scale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Columbia County: expanding access and growing participation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Growing more than food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 a response to real, immediate needs
\u2022 a space for learning, connection and dignity
\u2022 a way to share knowledge that can change daily life<\/p>\n\n\n\n