What We Do

Louisville Grows, founded in 2009, is an environmental 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to Grow Greener, Healthier Neighborhoods. Our vision is to foster green, just and sustainable neighborhoods in Louisville. Louisville Grows’ neighborhood-based urban forestry program focuses on restoring the urban tree canopy with a goal of planting 1000 trees each year. The main focus of our urban agriculture program is to build capacity in community gardens by providing technical assistance, education and infrastructure by offering community garden grants. Louisville Grows seeks to be a leading nonprofit in advocating for health equity through the environmental platforms of urban forestry and urban agriculture.

Our History

In The Beginning
2009-2011
2013
2015
2017
2018
2019

In The Beginning

Louisville Grows is founded by a group of “guerilla gardeners” gathering to make seed bombs in their living rooms. Their goal was to spread the importance of greening our community. This was the beginning of Louisville Grows assisting community groups and individuals on their journey towards sustainability.

2009-2011

  • Officially designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
  • Works with Metro Council District 5 to develop a vision for a 5-acre mixed-use agricultural site, The People’s Garden, located at 536 North 44th Street in the Shawnee neighborhood.
  • Starts with community members the Shippingport Memorial Garden in Portland, the Community Green School in Parkland, and the Hope Community Garden in Beechmont.
  • Assists in creating 13 community gardens focusing on food-insecure neighborhoods. community members to start the Shippingport Memorial Garden in Portland, the Community Green School in Parkland, and the Hope Community Garden in Beechmont.

2013

  • Conducts our first neighborhood tree planting in an all-out effort to restore the urban tree canopy and remediate the urban heat island effect in the community’s most impacted neighborhoods.

2015

  • Begins our annual Seeds & Starts Sale to provide low-cost plants, fruit trees and berry bushes to community gardeners. Plants are started in the greenhouse by our volunteers from seed. Proceeds from the sale of the plants supports the Community Garden Grant program.
  • Partners with Gate of Hope Ministries creates Hope Community Farm. a 45-member community garden, farm, and CSA located at 1400 Bicknell Avenue for refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

2017

  • Opens their new office and community space, Healthy House, located at 1641 Portland Avenue. Healthy House is an engaging, energy efficient, sustainable community space providing programming focused on healthy eating and living and environmental education and equity.
  • Releases the Louisville Grows Community Garden Toolkit and Garden Grant program to sponsor community gardens throughout Jefferson County.
  • Established as a Sponsor and project site with the Corporation for Community and National Service AmeriCorps VISTA program.

2018

  • Assists the Shelby Park Neighborhood Association in achieving their goal to plant 500 trees in 5 years.
  • Develops consistent programming for Healthy Health expanding our outreach within the community.

2019

  • Louisville Grows celebrates its 10 year anniversary by planting its 3,000th tree!
  • Becomes a partner of the Green Heart Louisville project.

Trees

Louisville Grows’ neighborhood-based reforestation program focuses on rebuilding the tree canopy in neighborhoods with the greatest declining number of urban trees.

Gardens

Louisville Grows works with community gardens is to build capacity by providing technical assistance, education and infrastructure.

Healthy House

Louisville Grows’ headquarters, Healthy House, is an engaging community space that connects the neighborhoods we serve to various opportunities provided by our community partners.

Upcoming Events

No event found!

Healthy House Art Opening Patrick Riley from POESOUL Studio- Friday October 7th, Healthy House Art Gallery, 1641 Portland Ave. 5:00pm to 7:30pm

Join Louisville Grows as we welcome our last featured artist of 2022, Patrick Riley, from POESOUL STUDIO in an opening reception of amazing works including drawings, oil and water color paintings, photography, and resin embellished wood panels. Light refreshments will be served.

Artwork will be available for purchase online at louisvillegrows.org/healthy-house-art-gallery/

Smoketown Community Wide Planting Saturday October 15th, 12:30pm-3:00pm

After the planting participants are invited to Logan Street Market for the after party with activities, prizes, and 50% off of their first beer purchase at Wild Hops.

Community Wide Planting Day is a partnership between Louisville Metro Urban Forestry, TreesLouisville, and Louisville Grows.

Where: Start at Meyzeek Middle School, 828 S. Jackson St. 40203

Signups: www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e49afac2ca0fbc43-smoketown

Solidarity Medicine Making: Oct. 11 & 27, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13 (6pm-9pm) |

Hands-on pay-what-you-can workshops hosted by Herbalists Without Borders SDF Chapter where you’ll make batches of a variety of herbal remedies and learn a wide array of medicine-making skills. Take home some of what is made and the rest will go towards the community!

Jeffersonville/Clarksville Tree Planting October 22nd, 9:00am-1pm

It’s tree planting season, y’all! We’re crossing the “pond” to help the residents in Southern Indiana restore their urban tree canopy. Join Louisville Grows in digging towards our goal of planting 1,000 trees this Fall. Trained Citizen Foresters will lead groups of volunteers to properly plant trees on residential properties. No experience is necessary, everyone is welcome to come play in the dirt with us!

Details:

Registration will take place from 8:30am to 8:50am.

Planting groups will depart at 9am.

Snacks will be provided.

Guidelines for Volunteers:

You can bring your own gloves, but they will also be provided.

Please bring a filled water bottle. Water will be available at check in.

Dress appropriately for the weather. You’ll be digging in dirt and handling mulch, so wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Closed-toed shoes are required.

Waterproof outerwear is recommended if rain is forecasted. We will plant trees come rain or shine.

Masks are appreciated but not mandatory. If you are not feeling well, please do not attend.

If severe weather is expected, you will be notified about an alternate event date.

This event is supported by Duke Energy, Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Zone, Red Ball Recycling and First Savings Bank.

Register at tinyurl.com/SoINTrees22

*Click on a flyer to be taken to registration site.

Latest News

Lisa Dettlinger with Justin Mog discussing Sustainability

Please listen to Lisa Dettlinger, Program Director at Louisville …

Louisville Grows’ Healthy House: Local Louisville video tour vlog

Team Beargrass Thunder heads over to Portland in Louisville, …

Growing
a Better Community

Ked Stanfield shares how tree planting in Louisville is bringing …

JOIN LOUISVILLE GROWS BUZZ!