Katie Stagliano never imagined that the 40-pound cabbage she grew for a school contest would have planted the start of an inspiring non-profit that’s stamping out hunger one vegetable garden at a time.
Watch this video about Katie’s cabbage.
Katie Stagliano never imagined that the 40-pound cabbage she grew for a school contest would have planted the start of an inspiring non-profit that’s stamping out hunger one vegetable garden at a time.
Watch this video about Katie’s cabbage.
This soup was a huge hit at our last Katie’s Krops dinnner. It was perfect on a hot night. Everyone was asking for the recipe so here it is courtesy of Mr. Herman McNeill our fantastic head chef & dedicated Katie’s Krops supporter.
4 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 large onion, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon fresh dill
½ cup red wine vinegar
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups plain lowfat yogurt
I first met Katie in St. Louis when Build-A-Bear Workshop named us both 2009 Huggable Heroes. Katie had received the honor for her success with Katie’s Krops, and I had gotten the award for the nonprofit that I started, called Bowling for Bears, which provides teddy bears to children in need during the holidays. It was a great experience to meet Katie and to learn about her amazing organization!
After we met, I continued to grow Bowling for Bears, and started a Do Something Club at my high school to involved students in my school in my organization. Our Do Something Club has expanded to participate in projects for many different causes.
The club was so excited about the idea of starting a Katie’s Krops garden as another one of our projects, and we couldn’t wait to get started and help those in need with our garden! We are so grateful that Katie’s Krops was able to provide us with funding for our garden — Katie’s generous support has helped so much!
Once we decided to start the garden and got Katie’s support, we secured a plot at our local farmstead’s community garden. We got seedlings and other gardening materials donated from local gardening stores, and after tilling and preparing the soil, we finally got to plant our eggplant, tomato, and pepper seedlings! We set up a schedule for club members to water each day, and continued to watch the seedlings grow! We also set up a collection bin for other gardeners to place excess produce to donate.
Our club members have really enjoyed growing our vegetable garden so far, and we can’t wait to continue! We really want to thank Katie for her generous support, and for all of the great advice that she gives us throughout our gardening process. We appreciate the opportunity to get involved in her organization and help others! Katie is so inspiring, and I really love working together!
Below are some thoughts from a few of our club members:
We’re proud of [the garden]. To Katie and Katie’s Krops, thank you very much for your support! Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we have, so once again, thank you very much :-D! Sincerely, Tiffany
After starting a garden in my own backyard this year, and then hearing about a chance to garden as a group for community service, I immediately joined the Do Something Club. I began to spend time researching garden tips and taking care of both locations, at my home and at the Barclay Farmstead. I think that it is great that by growing a garden and having fun while doing it, we can actually be helping people in need of food by donating our produce. It has been a successful experience so far and I am grateful for it. Thanks to Katie’s Krops for the inspiration and help we have received! Thanks, Kaylin
Thanks for sharing your expertise. I am honored to be a part of your wonderful organization! Despite the challenges of weeds and bugs, so far I’ve had a ton of fun and learned a lot from our gardening experience. It is incredibly exciting and rewarding to spot vegetables growing. Thank you, Katie, for supporting our garden and helping us to have this terrific experience. You are truly amazing! I look forward to keeping in touch as we keep you updated on the challenges and triumphs of our garden! Thanks, Gigi
by Sandy Summers August 2, 2011
Katie Stagliano, 13, gives new meaning to the word sharecropper.
The founder of Katie’s Krops oversees six gardens that have produced tons of vegetables for soup kitchens and other charitable organizations in and around her hometown of Summerville, S.C. (pop. 43,392).
Congratulations, Sarah the Katie’s Krops/AllyKatzz Grant Winner!!!
I am very excited to announce the winner of the Katie’s Krops/AllyKatzz Grant, Sarah, from Virginia! I loved Sarah’s application! I knew from the minute I read it we were so much alike. Sarah is very passionate and excited about gardening and giving back! In fact, Sarah was so excited that she didn’t wait to see if she was the winner of the grant to start her garden, she began shortly after she applied! Here is what Sarah wrote in her application, “I saw Katie on the news and Disney Channel. That inspired me to grow the vegetables I have in pots to something bigger. When Katie said “That a kid can do anything they put their minds to” that has made me what I am, a runner, a gardener and a helpful person to people.” I immediately knew I needed to make Sarah a member of the Katie’s Krops family.
It was even more special to find out that Sarah wanted to come and meet ME at the AllyKatzz Year of the Youth Culmination Celebration at the United Nations! Sarah is the first grantee I have ever met in person. It was a very special day for me for many reasons but meeting Sarah made it even more exciting! I was able to award her the grant in person at the French Institute and she had a great time at the celebration as did I! We both walked away so inspired by the people we meet, the speeches we heard and the realization that we can change the world.
Choosing a grantee is the most difficult part of the process. There are so many amazing girls out there who are passionate about this issue also. I always have trouble narrowing down the grantees as I did this time. I look forward to giving out more grants in the future.
Thank you to everyone who applied for the Katie’s Krops/AllyKatzz Grant and a huge thank you to Miss Denise, Miss Carol, Monique and to Disney Friend for Change for allowing me to be part of an amazing event that truly inspired so many!
Cory Fuller joins Katie’s Krops as the Director of Education after four years of teaching middle school at Pinewood Preparatory School where she was Katie’s sixth grade Science teacher. Before working with Katie at PPS, Cory graduated with her Master’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 2006. She taught outdoor education at a Pre-K to 3rd grade elementary school while finishing her degree, and has also taught 4th-7th grade at different schools here in South Carolina. Her passion is the outdoors and teaching in it. Cory joins Katie’s Krops with the same dream as Katie to help those in need and to inspire the younger generation to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Katie & Cory Fuller
When planning a fall garden there are several things to remember.
Katie’s Krops is thrilled to announce that we are a finalist for a grant from the Tom’s of Maine 50 States for Good! This is a national initiative to support the goodness behind grassroots community projects! Six organizations will share in Tom’s of Maine $150,000 sponsorship fund, including one organization that will be given $50,000. Katie needs your help! Place your vote at www.50statesforgood.com.
Click Here to Vote now and Vote Often!
You can vote once a day until September 13th!
Every year we plant watermelon seeds in hopes of getting a big, juicy, delcious melon. Yet every year we still get no watermelons or fist size watermelons that die or crack from the heat. Well this year we got lucky! Out on Mr. Bob’s farm with my two little girl volunteers we planted some watermelon seeds donated to us from Ferry-Mores. Today we went up check the garden and there was a twenty pound watermelon right in front on our eyes. I was absolutely amazed that I grew that! Even though I have grown a freakishly large cabbage before I have never managed to grow a watermelon, but there is a first time for everything! Thank you to my two volunteers Reese and Georgia for their magical touch! I am proud to say that my watermelon,which weighed in at a whooping twenty pounds, was donated to Eagle Harbor Ranch. Eagle Harbor Ranch is a a home for abused, neglected or homeless children. I am very happy to have been able to help them.
Thank you Ferry-Morse for supplying the seeds to help feed people in need!
Planting our Ferry-Morse watermelon seeds!
My amazing volunteers Reese & Georgia!
The end product! Beautiful!
Through Katie’s Krops and my gardening adventures I have met so many amazing people. I especially love meeting other kids who are making a difference in the world. In 2009 I was honored as Build a Bear Huggable Hero along with 14 other amazing individuals. We spend 3 days together bonding and learning about each other efforts.
I was thrill when several weeks ago one of my fellow 2009 Huggable Heroes contacted me about starting a Katie’s Krops garden in New Jersey. Jenny and I have joined forces and last weekend the first official Katie’s Krops garden in the garden state has tilled ground. I want to thank Jenny and all of the New Jersey volunteers for help Katie’s Krops grow and expand. I look forward to sharing photos and stories from the new garden. Thank you Jenny!