On November 2nd 2024, our Gather and Grow team headed out to Percy L. Julian Middle School to participate as an exhibitor for the 8th Annual Healthy Fall Festival and Turkey give away. The event was a huge success, put on and presented by the Equity Health Foundation in partnership with Arizona Fresh. The Fall Festival hosted a variety of community members from all across the Valley, so we were honored to be a part of this annual event for the first time. The Fall Festival had many features such as giving away 1,000 turkeys to participants, free vaccines, free mammogram examinations, a raffle, as well a stage with a DJ and live performers who put on a wonderful musical ensemble.Gather and Grow set up our favorite booth activity, where adults and children alike all participated in the decoration and planting of their very own Brown Tepary Bean to take home with them. The Brown Tepary Bean remains our new favorite seed to use with the public due to its indigenous quality and easy-to-grow properties. On this cool November morning all until the afternoon, our Gather and Grow team gave away at least 175 pots for families to feel inspired to try learning to grow the Brown Tepary bean on their own.

Our community outreach seemed to reach far at this Fall Festival, as we gained traction through meeting several prospective volunteers who expressed interest in helping Gather and Grow during future events. We were able to get the word out into the South Mountain and Roosevelt School District community about our gardening and catering curriculum program we are involved in at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, which is just a stone-throw away from Percy L. Julian where the Fall Festival was being held. We could not be happier to reach more people in the community we seek to create long lasting relationships with, and learn how we can make an impact in their day to day lives – even if it’s just with one Brown Tepary Bean!

From the Gather and Grow team, we sincerely appreciate this opportunity to participate as an exhibitor at this 8th Annual Fall Festival, and we look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces again at next year’s Fall Festival. Take care and stay healthy everyone!