FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 06-03-2025 Homeward Bound’s Garden Will Grow More Than Plants. It Will Grow Community
June 3, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2025
Homeward Bound’s Garden Will Grow More Than Plants. It Will Grow Community
[Plymouth, Minnesota] Behind every Homeward Bound residence, something meaningful is growing, literally and figuratively. Homeward Bound (HBI), an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities in neighborhood homes, has long believed that community begins at home. Now, with the launch of a newly built accessible community garden, that belief is taking root in a whole new way.
What began as small raised garden boxes in the backyards of HBI homes, where residents planted, explored, and nurtured, has blossomed into a full-scale garden designed with accessibility, inclusion, and growth in mind. More than just a place to grow herbs and flowers, the garden is a vibrant space for recreation, nutrition, healing, and community connection.
A Garden with Purpose
The garden was intentionally developed to reflect HBI’s mission providing innovative and life-enriching services for individuals with disabilities. For individuals supported by the organization, the garden will provide a joyful, low-pressure environment to get outdoors, engage in hands-on activities and recreation, and experience the satisfaction of nurturing something from seed to bloom. “With this project we are leaning into our vision to help individuals with disabilities enjoy full and dignified lives,” said HBI CEO Rob Edwards
But the benefits go far beyond enjoyment. Staff will work alongside residents to harvest fresh herbs, like basil, rosemary, and mint to be used in HBI kitchens, supporting healthy eating habits and offering a direct, tangible connection between garden and plate.
Equally important, the garden will serve as a source of natural beauty and creativity. Residents help cut and arrange flowers grown on-site, creating cheerful, seasonal displays for their homes.
Growing Inclusion Through Community Engagement
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of the project is how it plans to bring the broader community together. The garden is being built to welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, neighbors, students, retirees, and local business teams who will work side-by-side with HBI residents and staff.
“This garden is more than a growing space, it’s a bridge,” said Edwards. “It connects our residents to the larger community, and it connects volunteers to the heart of our mission.”
The garden officially launched with a community build day on June 6, drawing dozens of volunteers to help with layout and construction. The turnout reflected the spirit of a true “garden raising,” a collaborative event where community members rolled up their sleeves to build something lasting.
“We’re hoping that some of our volunteers fall in love with the space,” Edwards added. “We’d love to see them come back again and again, not just to maintain the garden, but to build relationships.”
A Living Reflection of Homeward Bound’s Mission
The garden stands as a living expression of HBI’s commitment to ensuring people with disabilities lead full, connected, and joyful lives. Whether someone is watering tomatoes, snipping herbs, arranging sunflowers, or simply soaking up the sunshine, every moment in the garden reflects the organization’s core values.
“This space lets us nourish more than plants,” said Edwards. “We are nurturing our core values of choice, integrity, inclusion and a deeper sense of community. And that’s exactly what Homeward Bound is all about.”
To learn how to volunteer in the HBI Community Garden or to donate, please contact:
Kristine Morin, Director of Development
Email: kmorin@hbimn.org
Phone: 763.746.4821
Website: www.hbimn.org
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