Gateway Greening is NOW: Seed St. Louis New Name Reflects Organization’s Mission
For Immediate Release
October 27, 2021
Gateway Greening is NOW: Seed St. Louis
New Name Reflects Organization’s Mission
As we celebrate our 37th year as a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to urban agriculture, we also are preparing for the future and supporting our mission to empower people to grow their own food.
In 1984, the seed for Gateway to Gardeners Association was planted by a group of dedicated volunteers, who wished to see vacant lots in St. Louis City turned into productive and beautiful spaces. What started small grew over the years as community gardens and school gardens multiplied and spread throughout the region. In 1998, the name and logo changed to Gateway Greening to reflect the growth of the organization. With this growth, the organization expanded into urban orchards and a land trust for future preservation.
Now in 2021, affirming the past and preparing for the future, we introduce: Seed St. Louis.
“As Seed St. Louis, our new name clarifies our role in the community. We wish to provide that seed for individuals to grow their own food. I am proud of our history supporting sustainable community-led gardens and orchards, and look forward to Seed St. Louis reaching more people and more communities throughout our region.”
– Matt Schindler, CEO, Seed St. Louis
“When the organization was started by Kitty Hoblitzelle, and 37 years ago,” states Dr. Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Gardens, “I considered it so valuable that I took it under the (Missouri Botanical) Garden’s wing and nourished it until it was ready to become independent. It has certainly flourished ever since, and I am very proud of what they have accomplished and are accomplishing continuously, and to such good effect.”
– Dr. Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Gardens
“Congratulations to Seed St. Louis on this exciting new chapter! While our history of name mix-ups may be going away, our shared dedication to the St. Louis region remains intact and we look forward to many more years of collaboration and community impact. We never love anyone being confused, but it’s been an honor to be in your company!”
– Susan Trautman, CEO, Great Rivers Greenway
As Seed St. Louis, we look forward to the future as we continue to support a growing network of over 250+ community gardens, school gardens, and urban orchards, and we still believe that by educating and empowering individuals through urban agriculture, we help connect people to the land, to their food, and to each other.
Why did we change our name and brand?
While the past year has been unique in many ways, it has also been a year of change and affirmation for our organization. As Gateway Greening, we have a rich 37-year history that started as a gardeners association, and grew over the years to include community gardens and school gardens throughout the region, we established a land trust for future preservation, and expanded into urban orchards. Now in 2021, we are realizing a long-term goal to change the organization’s name to better reflect our identity, mission, and purpose to empower people and communities to grow their own food.
What has changed with the organization, what has remained the same?
As part of the new name change, we also have a new strategic plan, and updated mission, vision, and purpose statements that better define our organization’s work. The strategic plan will help guide Seed St. Louis through our growth, and our updated mission clearly defines our work.
Mission: To empower people and communities to grow food
Vision: Equitable access to fresh healthy food throughout the St. Louis region
Purpose: To provide the community with the education, resources, and a network to grow their own food
Though we are excited about our new name, and the future changes, what won’t change is our dedication to the current 250+ network of community gardens, school gardens, orchards and urban farms, and our commitment to provide the community with the education, resources, and an expanding network to grow their own food.
What is new and exciting about the organization?
Along with the new name and mission, we will also be moving our offices and operations to a new location. In December of this year, we will be moving into the new Seed St. Louis Headquarters at the Delmar Divine. At the Delmar Divine, not only will we have the opportunity to build a new demonstration garden, create unique educational opportunities, and expand our operational facilities, but we will also be part of a larger nonprofit community.
For the future of our current Demonstration Garden, it will be taken over by Belle Community Garden, part of the Seed St. Louis network, and who has shared the agricultural space with us for over 35 years.
About Seed St. Louis (formerly Gateway Greening):
Founded in 1984, Seed St. Louis is a 501c 3 organization, dedicated to supporting urban agriculture in communities and schools throughout the St. Louis region. Supporting a network of 250+ community gardens, school gardens, orchards, and urban farms, at Seed St. Louis we believe that by educating and empowering individuals to grow their own food, we can connect people to the land, and to each other. Seed St. Louis is a community of gardeners, farmers, teachers, neighbors, friends, co-workers and volunteers dedicated to building deeply rooted, resilient urban communities.
www.seedstl.org
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