Both gardens donate produce to Waupaca Food Pantry
By Angie Landsverk
The Waupaca Community Garden model of growing food for those in need has moved to two locations this year.
One is at Chain O’ Lakes Elementary School, where the Chain Exploration Center (CEC) opened this school year.
The other is behind the former Riverside Elementary School, at the corner of Riverside Drive and Tenth Street.
ThedaCare owns that property and is providing garden space there, as well as funds to support it.
The grant is a $1,000 Community Health Initiative Sponsorship, said Jami Bahr.
She is a physical therapist at ThedaCare Orthopedic Care-Waupaca.
Bahr and Bev Hall are coordinating the Waupaca Community Garden-ThedaCare site.
“It’s all going to get donated, which is the same model we had at the other garden,” said Hall, Waupaca County’s WIC nutrition educator.
For years, the Waupaca Community Garden was located by Waupaca High School’s soccer field.
Last summer, school district employees and CEC representatives decided to move it to CEC.
At a community meeting, it was noted there should be lots of locations, both for convenience and because the need is so great, said Rhonda Hare, principal of Chain O’ Lakes Elementary, W4K and CEC.
The community garden’s mission at CEC remains the same, she said.
In addition, there is added space in it for student experimentation, greens for school lunches and plots for Silver Lake residents, Hare said.
Catherine Seifert is the coordinator of the CEC garden.
Those wanting to volunteer may email her at [email protected].
ThedaCare community garden
Missi Thoe is managing the ThedaCare community garden site.
It is a part-time paid position.
“I’m determined to make this successful,” Thoe said.
She has an associate’s degree in horticulture from Fox Valley Technical College, and sells organic produce and starts.
Thoe is at the ThedaCare garden site from 8-9 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, 4-5 p.m. Thursday and 3-5 p.m. Sunday.
She plans to hold some classes during the Sunday hours.
People may visit facebook.com/waupacacommunitygardenthedacare to follow the garden’s progress and special events.
Volunteers may assist with gardening and distribution and may stop by and help whenever they are able to, Bahr said.
Those with questions about how to help are encouraged to volunteer when Thoe is there.
People may also contact Hall at 715-281-8546.
Both gardens recently held their grand openings.
Members of the Waupaca Middle School Secret Service walked to the ThedaCare site on May 29, to help plant tomatoes and peppers.
Thoe said the garden will be free of chemicals and pesticides.
She is fertilizing it with kelp and fish emulsion.
Bahr said she is “excited to be coordinating such a great project that will not only give back to our community from the contributions that we grow and donate, but will also allow community members to take part in giving back and learning from this project on the beauty and importance of nature and encouraging healthy lifestyles.”
The Waupaca Community Garden’s mission is to enrich and improve the health and wellness of members of the Waupaca community, she said.
It does so by providing a welcoming space where community members and their families can spend time contributing to maintaining the garden, learning about healthy food options, gaining an appreciation for where food comes from and donating the harvest to local community members in need, Bahr said.
“It’s just a community collaboration,” Hall said.