Hood/FMH garden

Frederick Food Security Network

The Frederick Food Security Network (FFSN) is a community gardening program from the Hood College Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies. We are establishing a network of community gardens in Frederick, MD, in order to improve food security for residents of local food deserts, reduce local water pollution by diverting rooftop runoff for use as irrigation, and promote better eating habits and environmental stewardship in the Frederick community.

What's new in the greenhouses? Check out this video of our 2/29/24 update!: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1137563337138066 

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We work with partner organizations in Frederick to accomplish these goals. Community partners get involved by hosting a garden site, providing volunteers, offering funds or supplies, and/or assisting in produce distribution efforts.

Our role is that of a support structure. Some of the types of services we provide include:

  • Assistance coordinating volunteer support.
  • Grant writing assistance for acquiring funds.
  • Educational workshops and resources for garden coordinators and volunteers.
  • Bulk resource acquisition, such as seeds and seedlings.
  • Data tracking support to monitor garden success.
  • Roundtable discussions hosted for garden site organizers to discuss challenges and solutions.
  • Stormwater management consults to help gardens implement environmentally sustainable practices, such as vegetable rain gardens, compost piles, and rain barrels.
  • Facilitation of partnerships for effective and efficient distribution of produce.
  • Community needs assessments to determine needs and wants from the target population.
  • Nutrition education supplies and workshops.
  • Community awareness campaigns about food insecurity, nutrition and environmental sustainability.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @FrederickFood for updates.

For more information or to get involved, contact Haroun Hallack at hallack@hood.edu

Stories from the FFSN

Students planting seeds at the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs Garden

Frederick Food Security Network Receives Community Support

Donations from local organizations help the FFSN during the COVID19 pandemic.

With the recent generous support from organizations such as the Common Market, the Delaplaine Foundation and the Capital Group, the FFSN team will be able to continue working in our community.

    FFSN Celebration

    Frederick Food Security Network Celebrates 2019 Accomplishments

    Volunteers Gather at End-of-Year Event Graduate School Graduate Student Staff Undergraduate Student

    Representatives and volunteers from the Frederick Food Security Network and its partners came together Nov. 22 to celebrate all they have accomplished during the 2019 year.

    • Partnerships
    • Student Engagement
    • Community Involvement
    • Awards
    Building

    Vegetable Rain Gardens Installed at Boys and Girls Club in Frederick

    Frederick Food Security Network Staff Undergraduate Student

    Tuesday October 16 was World Food Day and we celebrated with an incredible team of Hood students and staff who volunteered their time to help us build two vegetable rain gardens at the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick. These gardens will be run by their after school and summer kids, who will also take the produce home with them! BGCFC is located in one of Frederick’s food deserts, where there is limited access to fresh, affordable, healthy food. Huge thanks to these incredible volunteers! 

    • Experiential Learning
    • Partnerships
    • Research
    • Student Engagement
    • Natural Sciences