Pennsylvania Garden Feeds Thousands With 600 Volunteers

When Tammy Graeber visited a food bank years ago, she saw expired goods and dented cans but nothing fresh or nutritious. That moment sparked an idea that's now fed thousands of Monroe County residents for 16 years.

The Garden of Giving in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, welcomed volunteers back for its 2026 season on a sunny spring day. Over 600 strawberry plants went into the ground using a creative pyramid design made from concrete blocks that keeps animals out and water flowing down to the roots.

The garden sits on 3.5 acres that Graeber's late mother gave her. Instead of keeping it to herself, Graeber transformed it into a community mission to provide fresh vegetables, eggs, and flowers to local food pantries.

This year's opening day brought families like the Quezados from Albrightsville, all five members trading video games for volunteer work. Seventeen-year-old Lena earned community service hours while her younger brothers learned to plant. "We wanted to get out of the house and do something," said mother Amanda.

Girl Scout Troop 50664 from East Stroudsburg showed up to learn about planting onions. Co-leader Lorna Davis explained that volunteering gets kids outside, teaches them valuable skills, and helps stock local food pantries with healthy choices.

Thirteen-year-old Joey Demaio has become a regular. "I love seeing how it comes along," he said while raking soil for new plantings.

The garden will produce corn, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, and more throughout the season. New this year, volunteers can purchase seed packs for just one or two dollars to start their own gardens at home.

The Ripple Effect

Alison Logan returned for her second year and brought friends along. What she learned last season helped her create her own backyard garden, showing how volunteer work spreads knowledge and self-sufficiency beyond the original mission.

The garden needs more hands every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning. Volunteers can show up ready to work or help with office tasks like grant writing. Graeber is also seeking three new board members to help guide the organization's future.

Every vegetable that grows here becomes a nutritious meal for a Monroe County family who needs it.