YESAction Initiatives
YESHorticulture
YESHorticulture
Growing sustainable alternatives to industrial agriculture, one garden at a time.
The Problem We're Solving
Industrial agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of ecosystem degradation, hitting all three major carbon sinks — oceans, soil, and forests. Fertilizer runoff from farmlands washes into rivers and eventually the ocean, fueling algae blooms that create marine "dead zones." Repetitive tilling releases stored CO2 from soil, breaks down its structure, and accelerates erosion. And in places like the Amazon, slash-and-burn agriculture clears forest for short-lived soil fertility, driving a cycle of ongoing deforestation. Most people have no direct alternative to these practices in their daily lives — they simply buy what's on the shelf, disconnected from how it was grown.
Foundation
Every chapter participating in YESHorticulture should:
Set up a garden — community, school, or home-based — giving members hands-on growing experience.
Educate members and the community on sustainable growing techniques like companion planting, crop diversity, hydroponics, and aeroponics.
This foundation alone builds environmental literacy at scale. Most people don't need to be convinced sustainability matters — they need to be shown exactly what to do about it.
Going Further
Chapters that want to extend their impact can:
Expand garden capacity or techniques — scaling up to aeroponic or hydroponic systems, or partnering with local farms and growers to widen community access to sustainably grown food.
Build their own creative extensions — harvest-sharing programs, planting workshops, or partnerships with school cafeterias and local markets. If your chapter does something new, share it with us so other chapters can learn from your work.
Awareness alone rarely changes behavior — repetition and community accountability do. Pairing consistent online content with real-world touchpoints turns passive followers into people who've actually changed a habit, not just read about one.
How We Support You
YESAction is here to help. Chapters working on YESHorticulture can reach out to us for:
Guidance on setting up and maintaining different garden types
Resources on companion planting, hydroponics, aeroponics, and crop diversity
Advice on approaching schools or local landowners for garden space
Connections to chapters running successful horticulture programs
Recognition
As we roll out our chapter recognition system, your chapter's participation in YESHorticulture will count toward your standing. Chapters that complete the foundation — setting up a garden and educating on sustainable techniques — will be recognized. Chapters that go further by expanding their growing systems or building community partnerships will earn higher recognition.
