Get Growing Foundation Information

The Get Growing Foundation is a 501(c)3 creating gardens, educational programming and year-round outreach to the public, with a particular focus on today’s youth. Get Growing Foundation has a mission to inspire, educate, and motivate the next generation of plant lovers through community outreach and education, experience-based learning, and horticultural job skills training. Get Growing Foundation is funded through the generosity of individual donations and corporate donors. In July 2019 The Get Growing Foundation launched PLANT TRUCK Chicago, a mobile plant boutique dedicated to providing access to much-needed plant material in under-served communities throughout Chicagoland. PTC also generates additional programming opportunities and funding for the Foundation by selling plants, terrariums, succulents, and other small garden-related items at community events and “food truck-style” stops. The 1974 GMC Utility Van was retrofitted and customized by artist Jason Verbeek as a means to showcase his metal sculpture art as well as share positive messaging about the environment and plants. Upon hearing our plans to create a plant truck that would serve under-served communities, Jason generously donated his truck to The Get Growing Foundation. IMPACT Your support of PLANT TRUCK Chicago will provide. • A mobile plant boutique selling plants at events or a self-contained pop-up store. • A plant resource in garden center desert communities, providing access to many under-served communities throughout Chicago that currently have no access to plant material. • A partnership with special-needs schools and programs to grow plant material as well as create terrariums and containers. • A job-training program for apprentices that include retail sales, horticulture, merchandising, inventory control, planning and scheduling.