What We Do

Seedleaf believes that the best way to enable the changes we envision is to educate others. Thus, EDUCATION is central to everything we do, and chances are, if we’re doing something, we’re teaching as we go. Similarly, we are always learning from others, and we’re thrilled to uncover the expertise in our own community.  Check out our SEEDS page to learn more about a youth-based program we began in 2009 that aims to create healthy food ambassadors, just one way that we are educating within our work.

Here’s what you’ll find us doing around Lexington as we grow, cook, share and recycle food.

GROW Since 2007, Seedleaf has helped start 15 gardens around Lexington.  We have weekly maintenance sessions scheduled at most of our gardens where we plant, cultivate, harvest, provide hands-on gardening education, involve the community, distribute food, and host cooking workshops.  Or sometimes we just show up to watch what’s growing!  Our weekly maintenance sessions that are open to the public are posted on our “Upcoming Events” calendar as well as under What’s Going On, where’ll you’ll find our regular programs and special events.  Please do show up and help us grow food as the year progresses!

COOK and SHARE Cooking Education Workshops In tandem with gardens with school programs, we do weekly seasonal cooking workshops that teach youth how to utilize fresh food and get them comfortable and capable in the kitchen making healthy recipes. We do this regularly at William Wells Brown Community Center, Florence Crittenton, Gainesway, Kid’s Cafe, any many churches who’ve opened their kitchens to us.

Soups On! On the second Tuesday of every month from March-November, Seedleaf gathers up whatever we’re growing and cooks up a batch of seasonal soup.  This soup is then given to a local feeding organization, and shared with participants.  For more information about Soups On!, click here.

Preservation Seedleaf will occasionally host preservation workshops when we happily accept any abundant produce from area farmers and urban gardeners and the hard working folks at Faith Feeds to either cook or preserve the supply.  Past examples are pear jam, apple sauce, and tomatoes.  Keep posted to our Upcoming Events section to see when you can join us in the next food preservation opportunity.

Harvest Parties When the produce comes in, Seedleaf often hosts parties that invite the community to participate in the harvest and taste the splendor with sample foods, often prepared by guest chefs. In the past, we’ve hosted a Pea Picking Party, Pumpkin Pie Making Party, and the Growing Community event at William Wells Brown.

RECYCLE Seedleaf’s Compost Partner program collects pre-consumer organic waste from 14 local kitchens and restaurants (and growing!) We then compost this waste at 9 sites across town.  Since 2009, 20,000 gallons+ of kitchen waste have been collected.  This system reduces our solid waste, makes the waste cycle more local, and creates nutritious soil for our gardens. This pilot project continues to grow as local restaurants sign up to become compost partners.  Contact us to become a Compost Partner!