SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Unlike most gardens this time of year, Unity Gardens in South Bend isn’t planning to pack up for the winter. Instead, they aim to support the community by offering tips for preserving gardens and hosting events to maintain healthy relationships this fall.

Employees are available every day to provide materials and assistance with the three-layer lasagna gardening method, which involves using cardboard, a layer of organic material, and mulch to prepare your garden for the spring. Although winter makes it challenging to provide fresh food, Unity Gardens will accept bottle cap donations, host community events, and offer free materials such as cardboard for garden preservation.

Unity Gardens will remain a valuable resource during the colder months by continuing partnerships with other nonprofits to provide food at their 50 marked locations. They also sell local products at their welcome center and the South Bend Farmers Market, offering cost-effective options that are EBT and WIC friendly to help people grow their own food.

The community is encouraged to take what they need as long as they plan to share with others.

This is part of many ongoing efforts to connect people with the local food system and each other through events such as ornament-making, holiday movie screenings, Thanksgiving preparations, and holiday markets to support local vendors.

Their 12th annual “Taste of Unity” fundraiser will take place on Nov. 7, at the Palais Royal, where chefs will showcase local foods, giving attendees a delicious way to support this vital community resource. Tickets for the event, which features food, live music, and a silent auction, can be purchased online.

With a variety of festive events on the horizon, donations and volunteers are always in high demand. If you’re unable to volunteer, spreading the word is an easy way to support their efforts and ensure Unity Gardens continues making a lasting impact.