As the first urban farm founder in Indianapolis, Indiana, Growing Places Indy (GPI) is a local nonprofit on the Near Eastside. Its mission is to cultivate wellness through urban agriculture and build a more just and equitable food system. The organization accomplishes this through a four-pronged approach focused on urban agriculture, access to fresh local foods, mind-body education, and entrepreneurship.

Since 2014, GPI has offered free weekly Family Cooking and Nutrition Classes designed to build more sustainable families and, in turn, communities. Children need to understand proper health and nutrition, and when the family learns together, it's more impactful.

Participating families will receive fresh vegetables grown using organic principles at our farm located at the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center. Each week, the families will work with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, who will present weekly nutrition lessons to the families. During the discussions, the children and parents will separate to allow hands-on activities with the registered dietician to allow for developmental modification and open, honest dialogue with parents about barriers to achieving health and wellness goals. Changing food-related behaviors is challenging, but by bringing families together, participants build kitchen skills, the confidence to put those skills to use, family support structures, and positive associations to continue new habits after the class.

We're excited to relaunch our weekly Family Cooking and Nutrition Classes in 2021, but we need your help! A small donation will help us buy the needed supplies to relaunch in 2021, bigger and better!

Growing Places Indy | Family & Cooking Nutrition Classes

By Growing Places Indy

Growing Places Indy | Family & Cooking Nutrition Classes