The CARE Garden was established in 2011 and is an all-volunteer effort coordinated by Lake County Extension Master Gardeners. A wide variety of vegetables are grown at the garden, including tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, eggplant, summer and winter squash, broccoli, cabbage, beans, onions, and root crops (radishes, beets, turnips, and carrots). All of the produce from the garden is donated to one of two local food pantries (The CARE Center or The First Presbyterian Mobile Food Pantry). CARE Garden volunteers have harvested and donated over 10,000 pounds of produce annually for the last five years. 2025 was a record year, with a total harvest of 15,351 pounds. Come see how this small-scale farm operates, and learn about some of the unique growing techniques that have been trialed at the garden, which doubles as a teaching tool and learning space for community members and Master Gardeners alike.
Extension is celebrating 40 years of the Master Gardener program in Lake County! From food pantries to pollinators, Master Gardeners have been serving Lake County in many ways since 1986. To commemorate this milestone, we are hosting a series of public tours of Master Gardener project sites around Lake County that showcase the public service and outreach provided by Master Gardener volunteers.
