plant jam

Plants teach us to be generous and help connect us to nature. We use plants as an opportunity to practice sharing. Through colonization we have all lost our relationship with sharing: giving + receiving, being in community, and our spirit of abundance.. We use this programming as a way to reconnect with our roots, our joy and our collective relationship with sharing.

Our Plant Jam program provides free house plants for Black folks. Inspired by the Underground Plant Trade, we have collected and redistributed over 35,000 plants to the Portland Black community. This started as an act of reparations and a way for the greater Portland community to practice the art of giving and receiving.

plant jam in action

In 2024 we piloted an Elder Garden Program working with two Elders in their gardens. This is a living history project. Mr. Vince has a garden in North Portland that is 23 years this upcoming 2025 season and Mrs. Anitas SW Portland garden will be in its 29th season. In 2025 we will be working with these two Elders in their established gardens along with a third in the Irvington neighborhood that has been cultivated by two Black women for 70 years. This program is an opportunity to celebrate + learn from our Elders, as well as a way to engage + deepen our collective relationship with the land right here in the city. You can sign up on our volunteer page to come and work in a garden with us. We need lots of helpers April -October.

elder garden program

buy from BIPOC-owned Plant Shops in Portland:

Many of our local BIPOC owned plants stores have been long time partners in this work. Please shop with them as you can.

EcoVibe
Birds & Bees Nursery
Reclamation
Larkspur
Noetic

Flora Noir
Wildehaus
The Rooted Heart

Our community really loves receiving plants, folks light up when given the opportunity to receive a plant or bouquet of fresh flowers. We currently pass our plants at our weekly Market and through our various events.

redistribution of plants

how you can help:

Anyone can donate plants in Portland during our weekly drop-off times (Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 2pm) at our workspace. Outdoor and indoor plants are accepted, though we have a larger demand for indoor plant donations. Plants should be in good condition, no pests and not dying. 4212 NE Prescott, Portland OR 97218

If purchasing plants to donate, we encourage you to shop at one of the BIPOC plant shops listed below… You can also sponsor this our any of our programs through monetary donations .

*Email AJ at info@equitablegivingcircle.org to connect about bulk donations