Como Grow A Row

A lush vegetable and flower garden fills the frame, with raised beds, leafy tomato plants, herbs, flowering perennials, and a large container of purple petunias in the foreground. A soft dark green gradient overlays the bottom of the image, and large white serif text across the center reads, "GROW ONE EXTRA ROW." The banner has a calm, inviting feel and promotes growing additional produce to share with neighbors in need.

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GROW ONE EXTRA ROW. FEED A NEIGHBOR.Ornamental white circle

Whether you have a backyard garden, a raised bed, or just room for one container, you can make a difference. Como Grow-a-Row is a community gardening initiative that invites neighbors to grow a little extra produce to share with others. Together with the Como Community Seed Library and gardeners throughout the neighborhood, we’re helping provide fresh, locally grown produce to Keystone Community Services and Peace House Community both accept fresh produce.
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One tomato plant. A few bean seeds. A pepper plant. Small gifts, shared by many people, make a remarkable difference. Last year, gardeners throughout our congregation and neighborhood donated more than 2,500 pounds of fresh produce.
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If you’re thinking, “I don’t have a garden. I don’t have room. I can’t do this,” you’re not alone. “I said that three years ago,” says Sue Brogger, Como Park Lutheran’s Director of Hunger Ministries. “I can plan and I can lead, but I don’t know if I can grow anything.”  Now Sue encourages others not to let that stop them.
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“You don’t have to be an avid gardener, and you don’t need an acre to plant. You can just make a decision to pick one spot, one pot, and grow something.”A young vegetable garden is enclosed by green wire fencing and bordered with large natural stones. Newly planted beans, squash, watermelon, and other vegetables grow in neatly mulched beds, with plant markers visible throughout. A paved path leads through the garden toward additional raised beds in the background. On the right side of the graphic, a dark green panel features large cream-colored text reading, "That's the idea behind Como Grow-a-Row." A caption beneath the photo reads, "Squash and Watermelon, CPLC Giving Garden June '26."

A promotional poster invites people to join the Como Grow-a-Row community gardening initiative. The design features a photo of gloved hands planting a young leafy seedling in soil, overlaid with dark gray graphic shapes. Large orange text reads, "Join the Community Action – Como Grow a Row Today." A bulleted list explains how to participate: sign up by scanning a QR code, choose seeds, grow them in a garden or container, track progress and share your story, and donate the harvest. The poster notes that help is available with coordinating donation collection and delivery to reduce the group's collective carbon footprint. A large QR code labeled "Scan Here" appears in the lower right, and the bottom of the poster reads, "Grow Abundance for Your Neighbors."

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

 

  1. Sign up at the Como Grow-a-Row table in the Narthex or complete the online sign-up form: Sign Up Here.
  2. Choose what you’d like to grow. Free seeds are available at the table and at participating Little Free Seed Libraries.
  3. Grow your garden. Whether it’s one container or an entire garden bed, every donation makes a difference.
  4. Bring your harvest to church. We’ll collect and weigh every donation before delivering fresh produce to Keystone Community Services and Peace House Community.
  5. Need help getting your produce to church? We’re happy to help. Contact Sue@comoparklutheran.org or 651-646-7127 Ext. 2203.

 

We’d also love to see your garden! Share your progress and photos throughout the season on social media using #ComoGrowARow.

 

Together we can grow abundance for our neighbors, one row at a time.

 

 

CPLC’s Grow A Row 2026 Photos

Click on the images to view their full size.

 

Week 1 – PLANT DONATIONS: 14 lbs delivered to Keystone Community Services

 

Week 2 – PLANT DONATIONS: 20.75 LBS delivered to Keystone Community Services

 

Week 3 – PLANT DONATIONS: 26 LBS delivered to Keystone Community Services

 

Week 4 – PLANT DONATIONS:  34 lbs of produce between Keystone and Peace House Community

Two cardboard boxes on a metal cart filled with assorted fresh vegetables, including leafy greens, radishes, onions, zucchini, and colorful Swiss chard, set against a brick wall with part of an American flag visible.

 

Week 6 – PLANT DONATIONS:  104.75 lbs of produce between Keystone and Peace House Community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 7 – PLANT DONATIONS:  6 lbs of produce

 

Week 8 – PLANT DONATIONS: 80.25 lbs. Sixteen pounds from the church members’ gardens!

 

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