Loaves & Fishes of Tompkins County is dedicated to providing free meals to those in need, regardless of their background or circumstances. The community kitchen, located in St. John’s Episcopal Church on North Cayuga St., has distributed an estimated one and a half million meals to date. As an awardee of the Fall 2025 Neighborhood Mini-Grant cycle, Loaves & Fishes has successfully established a community garden to sustainably source herbs for the approximate 70,000 meals they serve annually.
Where many would see an obstacle, the Loaves & Fishes Operations team saw an opportunity. The raised garden bed was built upon soil that was once populated with an abundance of invasive species and poison ivy.
The completed project is a product of collaborative community efforts. The remediation was completed by Cayuga Landscaping Company, a local business dedicated to sustainable landscaping. Additionally, the construction of the custom garden bed was done by a local contractor. Volunteers and staff have come together to plant and maintain the herbs, allowing for Loaves & Fishes meals to offer more than free food—each meal using the herbs is seasoned with care, time, and attention, which is in direct alignment with their mission of spreading love and companionship. Loaves & Fishes is not only providing sustenance, but nourishment, as fresh herbs also provide flavor and health benefits. The Operations Manager, Leslie Muhlhahn, has been with Loaves & Fishes for five years and had long awaited the creation of the garden. “It is such a pleasure to have all these herbs right in our backyard – the courtyard! It elevates the kitchen and improves our access to fresh, affordable ingredients,” says Muhlhahn.
If you or someone you know has a project idea for how to sustainably provide for the community, consider applying for a Neighborhood Mini-Grant by visiting: https://sustainablefingerlakes.org/neighborhood-mini-grant-program/
For Tompkins, Cortland, and Cayuga County residents, the deadline for the Fall 2026 cycle is Oct 1, 2026.
