Iowa Victory Garden Initiative
Nearly 11% of Iowa households are food insecure. In a state that feeds the world, that's unacceptable.
Reconnecting Iowa to Its Roots
During World War I and II, Americans planted Victory Gardens in backyards, vacant lots, and community spaces to feed their neighbors and support the war effort. At their peak, those gardens produced up to 40% of all fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States. They worked because they were simple, local, and built on shared purpose.
Iowa needs that spirit again. Food insecurity in the state has surged 57% since 2021, with Iowa food banks spending $9 million more in 2025 than the year before just to keep up with demand. SNAP enrollment has fallen to its lowest level since 2008, and the people who no longer qualify are still hungry — they're just showing up at food banks and community fridges instead.
The Iowa Victory Garden Initiative is our answer. We empower Iowans to grow food in their own communities, donate surplus to local food banks, and rebuild the kind of agricultural self-reliance that Iowa was built on.
How to Participate
You don't need acreage. A raised bed, a few containers on a porch, or a plot at a community garden can make a real difference. Here's how Iowans are getting involved:
- Start a Home Garden Grow vegetables, herbs, or fruits at home. Even a modest garden can produce 20–30 pounds of food per season — keep what you need, donate the rest.
- Organize a Community Plot Work with neighbors, churches, or civic groups to establish shared garden spaces. We can help you find land, plan layouts, and connect with local resources.
- Volunteer & Educate Help with garden builds, mentor first-time growers, or lead workshops on soil prep, seed starting, and season extension.
- Donate Resources Seeds, tools, soil, lumber for raised beds, or funding — every contribution puts food on a neighbor's table.
What We Aim to Achieve
Food Security
Iowa's food insecurity rate has jumped from 7% to nearly 11% in three years. We partner with food banks, community kitchens, and neighborhood fridges to get fresh, locally grown produce to the people who need it most.
Community Resilience
A community garden is more than vegetables. It's neighbors meeting neighbors, kids learning where food comes from, and isolated people finding a reason to get outside. Shared purpose builds stronger towns.
Agricultural Heritage
Iowa feeds the world, but many Iowans can't feed themselves. We're reconnecting people with the farming knowledge that built this state — from seed saving and soil health to preserving and sharing the harvest.
How This Connects to Cannabis Policy
People sometimes ask what a community garden has to do with cannabis policy. The answer is simple: credibility. An organization that only shows up when it wants something doesn't earn trust. ICAN is here for the long haul, and that means investing in the communities we serve — not just during legislative sessions, but every day.
Agriculture is Iowa's identity. By fighting food insecurity, building community gardens, and passing on agricultural knowledge, we demonstrate that our commitment to Iowa runs deeper than any single issue. We're building the kind of state where neighbors help neighbors, where land is cultivated with care, and where policy serves the common good.
This initiative aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).