Community Connectors

Our Community Connectors program helps maintain local neighborhood gardens to support families in growing healthy and culturally-significant food close to home.

Community Connectors provide support to 7 community gardens across Northfield and Faribault, serving 125+ families. Connectors liaise with their local communities to connect interested farmers and gardeners seeking land with the Sharing Our Roots Farm or to our established neighborhood gardens near where they live.

In 2025, our gardeners grew 30,000 pounds of produce— and, in the spirit of community care, shared 1/3 of the harvest beyond their own families. Together, we are building community resilience by strengthening our local food systems. Through the work of our Community Connectors, we ensure everyone has joyful spaces to grow, gather, and belong.

Sharing Our Roots supports
community gardens in:

    • Greenvale School Community Garden

    • Greenvale Place Apartments Garden

    • St. Dominic’s Community Garden

    • Sharing Our Roots Farm Community Garden

    • Cannon River Park Community Garden

    • Health Finders Clinic Garden

    • Faribault Rotary Community Garden

Tilling Cannon Valley Garden.jpg
Cannon Valley Plants.jpg
Rodrigo planting pepper - Cannon Valley copy.jpg
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Gardeners planting beans - Cannon Valley Garden.jpg

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Our team is comprised of five dynamic Minnesota locals (originally from Mexico and Kenya) who serve as our Community Connectors. They are trusted neighbors working on the frontlines of food insecurity across Rice County.

    To contact our Connectors, check out our Team page.

  • Connectors provide technical assistance, trainings, and resource support to increase food access and food sovereignty in our communities.

    This can include:

    • Building partnerships with property managers, city officials, and other nonprofits

    • Helping develop guidelines for gardens

    • Recruiting, allocating, and overseeing available garden plots

    • Providing technical assistance to growers for pest control

    • Coordinating management and upkeep of garden spaces

    • Donating seeds and plants to growers

    • Coordinating the delivery of compost and materials

  • To find out what garden plots are available, please reach out to Noemi (Program Manager) at noemi@sharing-our-roots.org.

  • Multigenerational families use garden plots to grow their own food for home consumption or for sale.

  • "For me, this program has been a wonderful experience. I really enjoy being in communication with my whole neighborhood, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity."

    —Erika, gardener

  • "I like to grow plants, see the harvest, and eat fresh food—that is my favorite hobby. When I’m growing plants, I like to interact with people and share ideas about what they know, because I like to learn more.”

    —Jose, gardener

  • “I love to see my managu, chinsaga, and corn grow. I meet other gardeners and we share about how our plants are doing and learn new skills and updates from home because we come from the same country.”

    —Teresa, gardener