Farmer Charles is a USAF veteran who never experienced homelessness until he returned back to Riverside, CA.
“In June 2014, when I briefly found my self homeless again, the VA homeless program found me a home a the Salvation Army Bell Shelter, where I volunteered in their small vegetable garden. Mrs. Alma Martinez, associate director of the shelter recognized my talents and offered me a small section of land approx 1,150 sq ft of land to produce healthy vegetables for the homeless. My responsibility was to do it at my own expense.”
IGH gardens is now a non-profit dedicated to becoming a “teaching” garden” and continuing to donate proceeds to the homeless with special attention to women and children shelters in the metro Los Angeles area.
We are very excited about our new location which approximately four times the size of our original spot. The garden produces in excess of 3,900 pounds of produce annually.