Youth-led urban agriculture • Columbus, Ohio

Grow food.
Grow futures.
Grow together.

We help end hunger and encourage kids to eat healthier through fresh local food, hands-on agriculture and youth leadership.

Volunteers planting garden beds beside The Garden Club Project high tunnel
2020Year founded
1 acreSouth Side urban farm
0–5Early childhood learners
TeensGrowing future leaders
Our story

One young farmer. A growing community.

Te’Lario Watkins II began growing mushrooms at age seven. At twelve, he founded The Garden Club Project to help end hunger and encourage children to eat healthier.

Today, our youth-led nonprofit grows fresh produce on the South Side of Columbus, shares food with community partners and introduces young people to science, agriculture and service.

Connect with us
Community volunteers working together among the crops

Hands-on learning and service at our Columbus urban farm.

Farm to Early Care & Education

Fresh food. Little hands. Big discoveries.

Our Farm to ECE program helps preschools, child care providers and families experience local agriculture through produce boxes, tastings, classroom garden activities and farmer visits.

Designed for children ages 0–5, activities encourage curiosity about where food comes from and make fresh vegetables more familiar.

Garden Club Project team member beside the farm water cistern and high tunnel

From our farm to young learners

Fresh local produce • family-friendly ideas • sensory tastings • age-appropriate garden learning

Our programs

Learning and growing, together.

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Urban Farm STEM

Teens explore soil, water, mushrooms, growing systems, entrepreneurship and real-world problem-solving.

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Mushroom Education

Hands-on growing kits and classroom activities introduce children to fungal life cycles and observation.

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Community Food Access

We grow fresh vegetables for local markets, food pantry partners and community families.

Shop for a cause

Take the farm home.

Every purchase supports our mission to grow food, knowledge and opportunity.

Grow Your Own Mushroom Kit

Discover the fun and science of growing mushrooms at home or in a classroom.

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Book cover: Te’Lario’s Amazing Mushroom Farm by Te’Lario Watkins II

Te’Lario’s Amazing Mushroom Farm

Read the story of a young mushroom grower with a big vision.

$15

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Join the work

There’s a place for you here.

Contact

Let's grow something good.

Columbus, Ohio · thegardenclubproject@gmail.com

For produce boxes, school visits, sponsorships and community partnerships, email our team.