Growing Roots, Growing Community: Outgrowing Hunger’s Approach to Food Access
Outgrowing Hunger nurtures connection to nature, food and community. Based in Portland and Gresham they build and operate farms and gardens for refugees, immigrants and anyone who cares about affordable access to real food. They work alongside communities to help people reach their highest potential for health, abundance and well-being.
Instead of relying on a traditional charity model, which they consider damaging to communities, Outgrowing Hunger works to empower people. Executive Director Adam Kohl notes that this approach can look “pretty darn messy.”
“We embrace a certain amount of failure in a safe environment,” Adam says. “For example, our farming participants often have ideas that might not have the right scale or fit our market or climate. We’ll share our concerns, let them try anyway and support them, knowing the outcome might not be what they had in mind. And if things don’t go the way they expected, we’ll ask if they’d like some advice. In our experience, this leads to real learning, ownership and faster improvement than telling people to do things our way.”
Outgrowing Hunger’s Farmer Accelerator Program supports about 45 farmers on a 19-acre farm in Boring, Oregon. Small parcels, sometimes as little as half an acre, are sub-leased to participants most of whom sell directly to shoppers at farmers markets, farm stands and pop-ups. Support is individualized, covering crop planning, soil education, business basics, marketing and customer engagement.
“We work with farmers where they’re at,” shared Adam. “That includes everything from crop planning, education about soil health, financial planning, business law and how to sell at a farmers market. It’s about giving people the skills and confidence to be self-sufficient and run their own businesses.”
The program has seen impressive long-term participation. Over the past seven years, 40 farmers have joined, and nearly all are still actively involved. Farmers are welcome to stay as long as they need to keep growing their business.
Outgrowing Hunger also runs three independent community gardens and manages six gardens for Gresham, serving 300-400 gardeners. Most gardeners are experienced and work independently; staff focus on orientation and support when it’s needed. Independent gardens mainly serve refugee families, with plots available by referral.
This year, the OGC Mission Fund awarded an unrestricted grant to help Outgrowing Hunger. Adam shared, “Funds will go toward a shed to protect our new walk-in coolers and a tractor to support farm operations.” Looking ahead, the organization aims to help farmers achieve organic certification.
Outgrowing Hunger shows how hands-on support, trust and practical resources help people thrive. The organization is one of many supported by OGC’s Mission Fund Grant Program, which promotes equity in the food system, increasing access to organic food and more. Find a list of all our 2025 grant recipients here.
