Fighting For
A More Generous
World.
The idea for Katie’s Krops began with a 9-year-old girl and a 40 pound cabbage. In 2008 Katie brought home a tiny cabbage seedling from school as part of the Bonnie Plants Third Grade Cabbage Program. She tended to her cabbage and cared for it until it grew to an amazing 40 pounds. Knowing her cabbage was special, she donated to a soup kitchen where it helped feed over 275 people. Moved by the experience of seeing how many people could benefit from the donation of fresh produce to soup kitchens, Katie decided to start vegetable gardens and donate the harvest to help feed people in need.
Become A Grower
Katie’s Krops now has 100 gardens growing across the country and has donated thousands and thousands of pounds of fresh produce to people in need. The mission of Katie’s Krops is to empower youth to start and maintain vegetable gardens of all sizes and donate the harvest to help feed people in need, as well as to assist and inspire others to do the same.
950,000lbs+
Fresh Produce Donated
325+
Gardens Planted
Visit Our
Outdoor
Classroom
Join us at Katie’s Krops Outdoor Classroom in our Flagship Garden
at the Crossroads Community Church in Summerville, SC.
Wear your support proudly!
Our new Katie’s Krops merch is here — shirts, hats, and mugs that give back. Every item helps us plant more gardens and feed more families.
Become A
Volunteer Today!
Do you live in the Charleston/Summerville area? We would love for you to volunteer and help us grow a healthy end to hunger. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help. Be a part of supplying food pantries, homeless shelters, cancer centers, Katie’s Krops Dinners and families in need with fresh produce. Join our volunteer list to be informed of all opportunities to grow an end to hunger.
You’ve decided to start your fall garden, so what’s the next step?
Knowing your zone! Your USDA Hardiness Zone, that is. ❄️
Your growing zone is basically your garden’s cheat sheet. It helps you understand what will grow well in your area and when to plant it.
Fall gardening also comes with one extra thing to think about: frost! You’ll want to know your first frost date so you can figure out how much growing time you have.
Once you know your zone and frost date, you can start deciding what to grow and when to get it in the ground.
And remember, your zone is a starting point. Mother Nature doesn’t always follow the rules, so keep an eye on your local weather, too!
Aug 12
Have you ever grown cucamelons? Or maybe I should ask, have cucamelons ever grown themselves?!
We’ve never intentionally planted them in our garden, yet somehow they pop up every year! They reseed themselves so well that they’ve become one of our best garden volunteers.
They look like tiny watermelons but taste like a crisp cucumber with a hint of citrus.
Be sure to harvest them when they’re about grape-sized for the best crisp texture—and keep picking to encourage even more to grow!
We’d love to know, do you grow cucamelons? Or do you have another garden mystery that somehow finds its way in every year? Let us know 🌱
Aug 11
Today we brought produce from our garden to the Free & Fresh Fridge at the Summerville Family YMCA, so we wanted to answer a few of your Q+As! ❤️🌱
When is the fridge restocked?
The fridge is a community effort! Katie’s Krops and community members donate produce, eggs, milk, and other non-perishables as they are available. Because harvests vary, we can’t provide exact restocking dates or times.
How do I get produce?
The fridge is located right when you walk into the Y. Let the front desk know you’re there to use it. Bags are available, and everything taken must be weighed and signed out so we can track our impact!
How do I donate?
Bring your garden produce, eggs, milk, or other non-perishables to the Y, weigh them, log your donation, and place them in the fridge. Initials are fine if you prefer not to share your name!
Do I need to be a Y member?
No! The fridge is open to anyone in our community experiencing food insecurity. ❤️
A little reminder: The purpose of this fridge is to help our neighbors who truly need access to fresh food. We know it may be tempting to grab something after your workout, but we kindly ask that you leave the food for those experiencing food insecurity.
Please refer to the rules posted above the scale if you have any questions. Thank you to everyone helping make this community resource possible!
Have a question? Drop it below! 👇
Aug 10
We’re not saying there’s a perfect time to start a garden… but if there was, it would definitely be fall!
If you’ve been dreaming about growing your own food, this is your sign to start.
🍂 Cooler temperatures mean happier plants (and happier gardeners!)
💧 Less watering because the soil holds moisture longer.
🐛 Fewer pests to battle.
🥬 Some of the easiest vegetables to grow—lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, kale, broccoli, cabbage, and peas—actually thrive in the cool weather, and many even taste sweeter after a light frost.
Whether you have a big backyard or just a few pots on your porch, fall is the perfect season to build your confidence in the garden.
Don’t wait until next spring. Plant a few seeds, get your hands in the soil, and you might be harvesting fresh vegetables all the way into winter!
Aug 9
One of my favorite parts of Katie’s Krops has always been learning and growing alongside all of you 🌱
Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just recently joined our community, I want to make sure we’re sharing content that inspires you, teaches you something new, and helps you grow!
So, I have a question...
What would you like to see more of?
Would you enjoy:
Gardening tips and how-to videos?
Seasonal planting guides?
Solutions for common garden pests and diseases?
Stories from our incredible Katie’s Krops Growers and the impact they’re making in their communities?
More behind-the-scenes moments from our flagship garden?
My personal journey—the successes, the failures, and everything I’m learning along the way?
Recipes using fresh garden harvests?
Volunteer highlights and community stories?
Or is there something else you’d love for us to share?
Drop your ideas in the comments. I truly read them, and your feedback helps shape the stories, resources, and inspiration we create.
Thank you for being part of this amazing community. I can’t wait to hear what you’d like to see next ❤️
Aug 8
Yesterday we stopped by our friends at Lowe’s Foods, and I am truly overwhelmed by the generosity of this incredible community. 💛
Thank you to every person who has donated and helped make this possible. Your kindness and generosity mean so much, and every contribution helps us continue providing food and hope to our neighbors through our monthly Katie’s Krops dinners.
A very special thank you to the amazing team at Lowe’s Foods on Dorchester Road for your partnership and for supporting our community in such a meaningful way. We are so grateful for your kindness and for everyone who continues to give so generously.
Aug 7
Our favorite mornings are spent together in the garden ❤️
Aug 6
As students, teachers, administrators, and school staff across Dorchester School District Two begin a new school year today, we want to wish everyone a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities.
The start of the school year is especially exciting for us because students at Beech Hill Elementary School, DuBose Middle School, Reeves Elementary School, and Sand Hill Elementary School will once again return to thriving school gardens they have helped cultivate in partnership with Katie’s Krops.
These gardens are so much more than outdoor classrooms. They are living lessons in compassion, responsibility, healthy eating, and community service. Throughout the school year, students plant, care for, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables that are donated to local emergency food programs, ensuring families facing food insecurity have access to nutritious produce.
Together, these four school gardens have already donated more than 2,000 pounds of fresh, healthy food in a year to neighbors in need. Every harvest teaches students that even the smallest hands can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
As another school year begins, we are grateful for the incredible teachers, administrators, students, and volunteers who make these gardens possible. We can’t wait to watch this year’s gardeners learn, grow, and continue sharing kindness—one harvest at a time.
Have an amazing first day, Dorchester School District Two! We look forward to another season of growing food and growing the next generation of compassionate leaders.
Aug 5
Katie’s Krops Growers learn so much more than how to garden, they build skills that will serve them for a lifetime!
Young growers Lilly and Parker recently sketched out and planned their entire fall garden, learning the importance of organization and thoughtful planning before a single seedling is planted. Lilly also practiced writing and sending her very first email to our Master Gardener, Mrs. Lisa, so they could review their garden plans together!
From growing food to building confidence, communication, and leadership skills, every experience helps our young growers blossom. We love watching them learn, grow, and become leaders in their gardens and communities! 🌱
Aug 4
This might be my favorite unboxing yet! 💚
A special surprise from our friends at @growoya could not have arrived at a better time. We are currently experiencing a severe drought, and our gardens are definitely feeling it.
Growoya clay watering pots release water directly to your plants’ roots exactly when they need it, with no evaporation. They also contain no coatings or chemicals, making them a simple, natural way to conserve water while keeping your plants healthy and thriving. 🌱💧
Thank you, Growoya, for coming to the rescue! We can’t wait to get these in the ground—our plants are going to be so happy. Stay tuned to see how we use them when planting our fall garden to ensure our plants both survive and thrive!
Aug 3
Between May, June, and July, our flagship garden has grown and harvested an incredible 5,973.5 pounds of fresh produce 💚
Every pound harvested represents fresh, nutritious food shared with neighbors facing food insecurity and brings us one step closer to one million pounds of produce grown and donated through Katie’s Krops!
Aug 2
Right now, our Joe-Pye weed is stealing the show!
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators can’t resist it, making it an important source of nectar during the heat of summer.
But here’s something many people don’t know...
When the flowers have faded and winter arrives, don’t rush to cut it back.
The hollow stems of Joe-Pye weed become tiny winter homes for native bees. Many solitary bees crawl inside these stems to shelter through the colder months, safely tucked away until spring.
So while it may look like an old, dried-up plant in the winter, it’s actually providing life-saving habitat.
Our advice? Leave the stems standing until spring. Once temperatures have warmed and bees have emerged, then you can cut them back.
One plant. Two seasons of purpose.
In summer, it feeds pollinators.
In winter, it protects them.
Sometimes the best thing we can do for nature is simply leave it alone.
Aug 1
Tiny hands making a BIG impact! Together, we are growing a healthy end to hunger one youth run vegetable garden at a time 💚
Jul 31
We often get asked what fertilizer we use in our garden because our plants are HUGE!
What if we told you… we don’t use ANY fertilizer! Instead, we use Soil3 Hummus Compost. 💚
Starting with good soil is the foundation for a healthy, thriving garden and a bountiful harvest. As you prepare your garden for fall, my #1 tip is to make sure you’re planting in nutrient-rich soil!
If you live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama, you can use our code KatiesKrops2026 to save on your BigYellowBag, or use the link below to shop and receive your discount:
https://soil3.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2TEV3U8h2xXrdVmQR1cdCReCT9AFtpZSeRqMOd8hsnFwpaB-uLqfRXVao_aem_k4pBqA5kyh9n0_jm7mjAtA
Happy Growing! 🌱
Jul 31
The moment you’ve been waiting for… it’s harvest time for our butternut squash! 💛
So far, we’ve harvested 35 pounds of butternut squash from our Vego A Frame Trellis, with even more ready to harvest soon—and we could not be more excited! We’ve loved sharing this journey with you and watching the incredible impact this trellis has had on this garden bed.
Thank you for following along and cheering us on! We can’t wait to add even more Vego A Frame Trellises to our Monarch Meadows section next year.
Jul 30
13 years ago today, Katie’s Krops was a question on Jeopardy! Alex, what is a cabbage? 🌱
Jul 29
Want to grow your fall garden from seed? Order your seeds from @parkseedco now and follow this guide to get started for fall 🌱
For our Zone 8 gardeners, mid-September is a great time to get your fall garden growing. Today, we’re highlighting crops you can grow from seed, including lettuce, beets, Swiss chard, rainbow carrots, and Graffiti Hybrid cauliflower.
A few tips for growing from seed:
🌱 Keep seeds consistently moist while they germinate, especially while late-summer temperatures are still warm.
🌱 Many leafy greens, including lettuce and Swiss chard, can be harvested multiple times throughout the season.
🌱 A light frost can actually improve the flavor of many cool-season crops!
🌱 For the Graffiti Hybrid cauliflower, it’s best to start seeds indoors and then transplant your seedlings outdoors.
We’re so grateful to our friends at Park Seed for helping us grow good and do good! A portion of the sale of select Park Seed seeds benefits Katie’s Krops. 💚
Shop our Katie’s Krops collection at Park Seed: Shop the Katie’s Krops Collection
Save this guide, grab your seeds, and get growing! 🥕
Jul 29
Join the Great Pollinator Adventure! 🐝🌸
Families, we hope you’ll join us for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, one of our favorite educational events of the year! During this fun, hands-on experience, young nature lovers will learn the basics of entomology before choosing a blooming flower to observe for 15 minutes, counting the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators they see. The information we collect will be shared with the University of Georgia as part of this incredible community science project.
Friday, August 21
🕙 4:00–5:00 PM
📍 Katie’s Krops Flagship Garden
Every youth participant will:
🐝 Learn about the amazing pollinators that keep our gardens growing.
🌻 Collect real scientific data that contributes to important research.
📜 Receive an official Great Southeast Pollinator Census certificate.
We’ll provide all the materials needed. Just bring a towel or blanket to sit on, along with your Lowcountry summer essentials: water, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Registration is required, and space is limited! When signing up, please include the names and ages of all participating children so we can have their official certificates ready.
Come be part of something important, learn something new, and discover just how amazing our tiny garden helpers really are!
Sign up here: https://katieskrops.com/events/great-southeast-pollinator-census-youth-community-science-activity-2-797/
Jul 28
In the garden, it can be tempting to let your produce grow just a little bit bigger before harvesting—but not when it comes to okra!
When it comes to okra, smaller is better. Young, tender okra is more flavorful and less likely to become tough and woody. So don’t wait too long to harvest!
But what about those big okra pods that got away from you? We have a use for those, too! We dry them out and turn them into fun crafts, including ornaments and adorable okra angels. 💚
In the garden, there’s always something to learn—and almost everything has a purpose!
Jul 27
Talk about a prolific producer! Bonnie Plants Ichiban Eggplant is one of our favorites in the Katie’s Krops flagship garden. 💜🍆
These beautiful eggplants may look like purple bananas, but they pack a BIG harvest—producing upwards of 40 eggplants per plant! When we choose what to grow, we always look for varieties that will provide the largest yield possible for our neighbors in need while also being delicious.
Ichiban Eggplant checks both boxes! We’re so grateful for plants that help us grow more food and share more fresh, healthy produce with our community.
Jul 26
