Posted 12 November, 2025
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with Iowa Total Care, a provider of Medicaid healthcare coverage in Iowa and a Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) company, is launching a statewide initiative to support community gardens that donate fresh produce. The Iowa Donation Garden Network is designed to connect and empower garden organizers through expert-led education, shared resources and collaborative programming.
Led by ISU Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Master Gardener Program, IDGN builds on the legacy of Growing Together Iowa, which provided over 900,000 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries over the past decade. As the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education, referred to as SNAP-Ed, funding concludes in 2025, this new membership-based organization fills a critical gap in statewide support for donation gardens.
“The Iowa Donation Garden Network is a way to continue the momentum of donation gardening in Iowa,” said Alicia Herzog, Iowa Master Gardener program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We’re excited to offer a space for garden leaders to learn, connect and grow their impact.”
Membership in the network includes access to quarterly educational Zoom calls, a comprehensive donation garden toolkit, signage and posters for member gardens and inclusion in a statewide garden map and annual impact report. Members also gain access to a closed online community for peer-to-peer support and idea exchange.
Thanks to a generous donation from Iowa Total Care, the work of developing and implementing the IDGN will be supported for the first three years. This includes waiving membership fees, providing physical resources like garden and food pantry signage and administrative support of the program. The standard membership rate is currently set at $150 per garden annually and includes access for two designated garden representatives.
“Iowa Total Care has been a generous supporter of Growing Together Iowa and the Iowa Master Gardener Program since 2023. Their continued support enables us to engage with donation gardens statewide and expand access to educational resources that strengthen their efforts,” said Herzog. “Their investment in community health and food access is helping us build a foundation for long-term success.”
“At Iowa Total Care, we believe access to fresh, healthy food is foundational to community health,” said Bryan Sanders, Iowa Total Care plan president and CEO. “Supporting the Iowa Donation Garden Network aligns with our mission to address social drivers of health and empower local solutions that improve lives.”
Gardens interested in joining the network can learn more and register at the Iowa Donation Garden Network website. Zoom informational sessions will be hosted on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Garden representatives interested in attending an informational session can register on the Iowa Donation Garden Network webpage