Buffalo Freedom Gardens & Hope Program Incorporated

Our Ask

Your contribution through the Buffalo Bills Foundation will provide additional funds to support:

• Providing residents with agricultural training, tools, and materials to grow their own garden in their backyard.
• Food Forest: A 5-year project that will be established on the Eastside of Buffalo, NY. Contributions will assist in purchasing fruit and nut trees, fruit shrubberies, edible flowers, soil, lumber to make raised garden beds, wheel barrels, garden gloves for volunteers, rakes, shovels, watering cans, etc. 
• Youth: Stipends, permaculture training, garden kits and youth programming.
• Training: Community Tree program training and Master Gardner training.

Our Partnership

In an inspiring partnership, Buffalo Freedom Gardens joins forces with Hope Program Inc. Together, our focus is a 3-part intergenerational shared vision:   

• Forest Project implementation for the community.
• Create youth food sustainability service-learning opportunities and grow nutrient-rich food.
•  Provide gardens through the zip codes that have the highest poverty rates and least number of grocery stores. 

Our partnership not only aims to put down roots of resilience and self-sufficiency within communities but also stands as a beacon of hope, reducing violence through the cultivation of community gardens and the nurturing of character and tenacity among youth.

Food Forest Project: 

1st Food Forest project in Buffalo, NY history. In 2023 Buffalo Freedom Gardens established a community food forest garden initiative to build resiliency in neighborhoods with poor health outcomes, high poverty rates, and limited food access. Food forest gardens provide storm water interception, development of a diverse ecosystem that includes the native plant and pollinators, healthy food production that includes fruit and nut trees, edible flowers, berries, and seeds. Plots that are used for food forests provide food reserves in times of crisis, adding to emergency preparedness when winter snow or windstorms shut down the city and educate the community. 

Buffalo Freedom Gardens

We are a grassroots gardening initiative that believes in growing nutritious organic food and herbs in the yards of Buffalo residents. Our initiative grows food, native plants, human potential and thriving communities that support life, freedom, resilience, ownership, self-determination and health and wellness. Ms. Wells, founder of Buffalo Freedom Gardens, was recently bestowed the UB’s Dean Medal from University at Buffalo (UB) Architecture and Urban Planning at the 2023 commencement ceremony. In 2020, Ms. Wells founded Buffalo Freedom Gardens and has since established backyard food producing gardens at 150 sites with the assistance of a viable cadre of volunteers (over 100 individuals) and partnerships with 10 community-based organizations, Soul Fire Farm, Food for the Spirit, and the University of Buffalo Food Lab. Founder: Ms. Gail Wells 

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloFreedomGarden/

Follow us on Instagram @buffalofreedomgardens.

Hope Program Incorporated Organization (HPIO)

We are a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization since 2015 with a focus for youth homicide and violence prevention programming, community engagement, academic and social emotional support for our youth homicide survivors, and youth that experience PTSD, trauma, and academic anxiety. Youth development and empowerment with a wholistic approach is our top priority! We create safe, nurturing environments that empower individuals to reach their full potential, well-being, and educational success. Founder/CEO: Hope Isom      www.hopeprograminc.org

Follow us on Instagram@hopeclub716

Buffalo Freedom Gardens & Hope Program Incorporated is a Charity participating in the Week 8 Buccaneers at Bills a 50/50 Raffle event, presented by Buffalo Bills Foundation Inc..