Regarding the Future of the Heart & Soil People’s Garden
Over the past several years, Local First Arizona has had the opportunity to provide space for Nika Forte and ABC Mobile Education Center to build programming, community connections and educational opportunities at the garden. We are grateful for the energy, expertise and dedication that Nika has contributed to the space and to the broader conversation around food systems, composting and community agriculture.
As our current, scheduled funding cycle comes to a close and the needs of the garden continue to evolve, Local First Arizona and ABC will be transitioning into a new phase of our relationship. We respect the work accomplished under Nika's leadership and the positive impact the garden has had on many community members. We are grateful for her dedication and contributions to the project and wish her continued success in the future.
The conclusion of the current grant provides an opportunity for Local First Arizona to reassess how the garden can best serve the surrounding neighborhood and support our broader mission. Going forward, our focus will be on strengthening partnerships with local schools, expanding youth programming, creating opportunities for beginning farmers and food entrepreneurs, and ensuring the garden remains a collaborative, accessible and sustainable community resource. Anyone growing in the garden is more than welcome to stay.
We remain committed to supporting ABC as an independent organization and have offered continued access to resources, garden space, technical assistance and grant support where appropriate. We sincerely hope to continue working together in ways that allow both organizations to thrive while pursuing their respective missions.
We are proud of what has been built through this partnership and look forward to the next chapter of the garden's evolution. Most importantly, we remain focused on serving our community and creating opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, food access and local resilience throughout Arizona.