The Greens to Go program serves underserved neighborhoods in the 4th Ward of Waterloo and surrounding areas by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Weekly outreach efforts consist of mobile produce stands, home delivery, contactless curbside pickup, and online ordering service options. All fruits and vegetables are grown and sourced from our network of farmers located in both urban and rural areas.

We Arose Gardens encompass both area community gardens and the We Arose Demonstration Farm. This farm is a quarter-acre, no-till plot in Waterloo’s Fourth Ward, where community members gather to grow food that will nourish the community and their families. Volunteers will learn how to prepare garden beds, establish walkways, set up irrigation and deal with weed management so they can ultimately produce high-quality greens.

We Ride is a monthly community bike ride designed to encourage beginners and casual riders to get active and be included in organized rides. Join the crew and experience themed routes designed to highlight our local community in Waterloo and surrounding areas. New routes are premiered on the 2nd Sunday of each month, May through October. We Ride is brought to you by We Arose in partnership with Waterloo Bicycle Works.

2nd Sundays starting at 10AM at We Arose Demonstration Farm

Wine Exchange is designed to create the ultimate experience by sharing, learning, and preserving the culture of wine. We create the time and space for entrepreneurs, community leaders, and wine enthusiasts to have conversations and network with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Learn more about our love for wine by checking out our online web series “Wine Down w/Quan.”

We Arose Co-op was created to form a symbiotic relationship between the community and the local rural and urban farmers. Not only will We Arose assist with services such as harvesting labor, product distribution, e-commerce and online shopping, data collection, producer education, and marketing–local producers should expect to reach new consumers, diversify their distribution channels, and reduce food waste.

General Memberships Benefits include:
Voting privileges in electing Board of Directors
Opportunity to run for boards and committees
Influence key decisions as it relates to the co-op
Eligible for member-only product specials
Supporting local farmers and the development of a sustainable local food ecosystem
Access to member only portal featuring exclusive co-op content and merchandise
Patronage refund (to be formalized by Governance committee)

We Arose partners with Youth Empowerment Services to provide employment opportunities for area youth in the summer through our ten week intensive program. This partnership directly benefited 31 area youths by providing them with summer employment opportunities, education, and skills training. Throughout the summer months, youths received weekly education on the process of growing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables. This education included a wide range of topics including breaking ground, planing, irrigation, weeding, and harvesting techniques. In addition, youths were in charge of preparing and managing a mobile smarket stand. Youths were tasked with ensuring supplies and materials were packed in vehicles in preparation for market stands. Youths also greeted customers, placed orders, and handled money transactions. Throughout the program, 25 youths reported increased knowledge of how to grow and sell their own food as well as increased physical activity.