Specialty Crop

Members of the church constructed raised beds with the help of local members of the University of the Wyoming Extension Master Gardeners Program (see listing below). Grant funding from the Wyoming Hunger Initiative (see statewide section) paid for materials.

Church members grow a variety of vegetables and fruits in the gardens, including lettuce and other greens, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers. Fresh produce is donated summer through fall to the Wheatland Food Bank through the Grow A Little Extra program (see statewide section). “One of our missions is to feed people. We believe that no one in Platte County should go hungry,” says the Rev. Jill Zimmerschied, who notes that members of the parish volunteer at the food bank and the church also contributes funding. “What we’re doing is truly a community service,” she adds.

The Master Gardeners also helped parish members install a drip irrigation system in the raised beds. The system cuts down on water usage, improves water availability to plants, helps reduce disease by minimizing water contact with leaves, among other benefits.

“The raised beds aren’t very big, but they sure produce a lot,” she says.