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Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments, INC. (VINES) is an organization committed to developing a sustainable and just community food system. We do this by bringing together diverse groups of people, with a focus on youth development, to establish community gardens, urban agriculture and community green spaces. We strive to develop and beautify urban sites and empower community members of all ages and abilities.

The essence of VINES' work is captured in its simple motto: growing food, growing community. VINES empowers people to improve their lives and communities through urban gardening and connecting urban consumers to rural farmers. The organization formed as a volunteer-led project building community gardens in 2007 but quickly grew as demand for urban gardening space, garden-based education, and access to local food exploded. VINES became an independent nonprofit in 2010, and now manages a number of programs including a community garden program, the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Urban Farm (BUF), Grow ßÙßÇÂþ»­ (a summer youth employment program), the Green Thumb Educational Workshop Series, and the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Farm Share program (Farm Share). Demand for VINES' programming continues to grow and the organization is working to expand its core programs both within and beyond ßÙßÇÂþ»­'s urban core.

VINES is a community partner with the Center for Civic Engagement's impactBING CORE Program. If you're interested in meeting with a CCE Graduate Assistant to learn about other volunteer opportunities with the CCE's community partners, please complete the interest form: https://forms.gle/FC3f3efePsh33yHq8