Our Story

A garden that belongs to everyone.

Hoosick Community Garden is a nonprofit rooted in the belief that growing food brings people together - and that seeds, like good neighbors, are meant to be shared.

Our Mission

Growing food, building community, sharing abundance.

Hoosick Community Garden exists to make growing food accessible to everyone in our community - not just people with big yards or gardening experience. We tend plots together, run a seed library, and show up at local events because we believe this town is better when neighbors know each other.

This is a community garden in Hoosick Falls, NY where anyone can get involved, get their hands dirty, and take something home at the end of the day - whether that's tomatoes, sunflower seeds, or just a conversation with someone new.

"Good food should be something everyone in Hoosick Falls can access. That's what we're building here."

A Hoosick community initiative to encourage and support self-sufficient and sustainable living. Our mission is to provide a place to garden and share our collective knowledge on how to grow food and build without waste. Composting, reuse of materials, humane animal raising techniques, and other relevant topics are all welcome here.

How It Started

Sarah Gorgas planted a seed.

In 2022, Sarah Gorgas saw a need in Hoosick Falls and decided to fill it. She reached out to neighbors, found land on Wilson Hill Road, and built something from scratch. The black locust fence posts she sourced from local trees. The raised beds she built by hand. The fruit trees she acquired and planted. All of it was her idea, her work, and her gift to this community.

Since then, the garden has grown a lot. An official board formed in 2026. All 24 beds are now rented. An orchard, a berry patch, a three-bay compost bin, and a spiral herb garden have all taken root. But the foundation Sarah laid in that first season is still holding everything up.

Sarah has stepped back from day-to-day operations, but the garden is full of her fingerprints. She leaves a trail of gardens wherever she goes - and Hoosick Falls is fortunate to be one of them.

2022

Garden created by Sarah Gorgas and dedicated community members on Wilson Hill Road.

2023

First full season: fence, gates, and 24 raised beds built from locally sourced black locust lumber - including a tree from Cheney Library, milled right here.

2024

Leadership transition to Kaila Schmigel. Orchard planted: 5 apple trees, 4 stone fruit trees, 12 berry bushes. Three-bay compost bin built. 150+ pounds of produce donated to local food pantries and families.

2025

First year on the Hoosick Blooms garden tour. Partnerships with Head Start, Day Camp Opportunities, American Legion Auxiliary, and Boy Scouts. First bed rentals.

2026

Official Garden Board formed. First volleyball tournament fundraiser. All 24 beds rented for the first time.

The People

The Garden Board.

A volunteer board of neighbors who show up, season after season.

Sarah Gorgas

Founder • Lifelong Grower and Giver of Gardens

Sarah has always had a passion for growing food and growing community. She saw a need for a community garden and worked to fill it. She has since taken a step back, but the garden remains filled with constant reminders of her dedication: from the black locust fence posts she sourced from local trees, to the raised beds she built and the fruit trees she acquired. She leaves a trail of gardens wherever she goes, and we are fortunate to be one of them.

Kaila Schmigel

Board President • Social Media Coordinator

Kaila began at the garden as a novice gardener at best. Her passion for growing things and her desire to serve her community has driven her to take on many roles: groundskeeper, social media coordinator, treasurer, event coordinator, grant writer - you name it. She is now entering her third year as the head of the garden.

Jared Amuso

Vice President

Jared is a collector of skills and a lifelong learner. His passion for self-sufficiency brought him to the garden where he has helped streamline growing and watering processes and has connected the garden to many community resources. He is now entering his first year as Vice President of the Garden Board.

Mitch Schmigel

Treasurer • Groundskeeper • Garden Doer

Every good operation needs a doer like Mitch. He was thrown into the garden when his wife joined, but has taken on the task gracefully. Moving the heavy things, weeding the overgrown things, mowing the grassy things - Mitch does a little bit of it all. He is entering his first year as Treasurer of the Garden Board.

Jill Bambrick

Secretary • Community Outreach / Garden Liaison

Jill's full bio and photo are coming soon. Her dedication to this garden and to the Hoosick Falls community speaks for itself.

Todd Bambrick

Groundskeeper

Todd's full bio and photo are coming soon. His work keeping the garden in shape is felt in every season.

Heidi Morse

Board Member

Heidi's full bio and photo are coming soon.

Our Status

A community nonprofit in the making.

Hoosick Community Garden is a community organization currently working toward official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. We are in the process of applying and expect to have that in place soon. In the meantime, every dollar donated goes directly to the garden, the seed library, and the people we serve.

Support our work

What We Do for Hoosick Falls

Showing up, season after season.

This is the kind of thing that happens in a community garden when the right people are running it.

Free Seed Distribution

We give seeds to anyone who asks. No application, no cost, no red tape. Over 500 packets found new homes at the 2026 St. Patrick's Day parade alone.

Food Access

Growing food together means more fresh vegetables and herbs reaching families right here in Hoosick Falls, at no cost.

Seasonal Events

Planting days, harvest gatherings, seed swaps, and community workdays throughout the year. A reason to come outside and be with your neighbors.

Knowledge Sharing

We offer informational and educational classes for the community - seed saving workshops, canning and food preservation classes, and growing tips passed from neighbor to neighbor. You don't need to know anything to get started - we'll figure it out together.

From the Garden