Garden Volunteer of the Year 2026

Gardening for Good helps to continue nourishing our community thanks to the dedication of incredible volunteers. Our garden, self-funded by this month’s Plant Sale, wouldn’t thrive without their hard work! For the past 3 years, our garden Volunteer of the Year, Katie, has poured her time and energy into Project Host, helping grow an abundance of fresh food that supports our program. Each year Katie raises the bar even higher, and we are so grateful for her commitment and passion!

What made you want to start volunteering at Project Host?

I moved from Michigan about three and a half years ago. After moving into an apartment, I was looking for a place to get my hands dirty. I saw an ad that Project Host needed help in the garden, showed up, and was immediately handed a shovel.

How has volunteering with us impacted your life?

Gardeneers showing off their harvest!

I was quickly blown away by how much Project Host accomplishes. It is a small space, but the amount of food produced by the soup kitchen, the bakery, and the culinary school is beyond impressive. Producing such a significant amount of fruit and vegetables in that space to contribute to these programs is spectacular. I’ve also gained a massive respect for farmers; working in the garden has taught me how many variables, like weather and groundhogs, are out of your control.

Describe the gardeneers in 3 words.

Fulfillment, learning, and dedicated.

What’s one small way people can start gardening at home?

For newbies, I think starting out with pots is a great way to begin. Gardening is forgiving, and even though I had to learn through trial and error with the local red clay, I’ve found that the dirtier I am, the better!

What’s something first-time shoppers should know before coming to the plant-sale?

Gardeneers seeding vegetables for annual plant sale.

Everyone needs to know that the veggies are all started by seed from the volunteers and other things are propagated from existing plants from Project Host.

Do you have a must-buy plant you’d recommend this year and why?

I can't recommend just one thing as I love it all! (Check out all our pre-order items here!)

What’s something people might not realize about how much work goes into growing food for our programs?

There is a lot of science and tons of dedication involved; it is truly a labor of love for all of us. People should also know that the garden is self-funded, so everything we buy is funded by the plant sale. It’s a huge undertaking.

What’s your favorite memory from your time volunteering?

I’m a little competitive and always trying to beat our production numbers from the previous year. Rick constantly reminds me to "under-promise and over-produce," though I’m still trying to wrap my head around that! This year I’m shooting for 3,000 lbs, despite the frost hitting our peaches.

Learn more about our 2026 Plant Sale!