For the past 20 years, the OSU Master Gardener volunteers at the Grow an Extra Row: Giving and Learning Garden have been dedicated to growing fresh, high-quality produce to support Clackamas County residents experiencing food insecurity. In 2024, more than 4,600 lbs of fresh produce was donated to local food pantries. Annually, thousands of pounds of produce are grown on a mere 5,000 square feet of ground at Clackamas Community College Garden. The project is supported and funded by the Clackamas County Master Gardener Association.

Efforts at the garden not only contribute to local food security but also promote sustainable gardening practices. The garden serves as an educational space where community members can learn practical skills to grow their own healthy food, ensuring long-term access to fresh, nutritious food. By donating the bountiful harvests to local food pantries, Master Gardeners are helping people on limited budgets access nutritious food while also fostering a sense of community and service.

Anyone is welcome to join in for a hands-on experience to expand their own garden knowledge and to lend a hand with this valuable community project. Volunteers work in the garden every Tuesday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, April through October, weather permitting.