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Johnson County

Research-based Information You Can Trust — Localized for your needs

Johnson County
11811 S. Sunset Drive
Suite 1500
Olathe, KS 66061

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday,
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

(913) 715-7000
(913) 715-7005 fax
jo@listserv.ksu.edu

Map to our office

K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Johnson County Extension at (913)715-7000. Notify staff of accommodation needs as early as possible.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Thankful for WIC Garden Volunteers

Johnson County’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services to more than 4,000 area families who qualify. The program, which is funded by USDA and administered locally by Johnson County Dept. of Health and Environment, serves pregnant women, new moms, and kids under age 5.

 

The WIC garden ”in bloom” providing much needed green space on the Johnson County Government - Olathe Sunset Campus

Through its partnership with K-State Research and Extension and support from regular community volunteers, Johnson County is one of the few WIC programs nationally with its own diversified production garden. Established in May 2013 the Johnson County WIC Community Garden and Orchard is located on a ¼ acre green space conveniently situated between the Health Department and Extension Offices in Olathe. With technical assistant from K-State, county employees, community members and WIC recipients volunteer their time weekly (every Tuesday morning) to seed, hoe, prune, stake, mulch, harvest and more depending on the season.

 

WIC families volunteer to grow healthy food for their families and others.

 

 

Johnson County Health and Environment, K-State, After the Harvest staff and community volunteers in the WIC orchard for tree pruning.

The garden was developed to educate, empower and feed the families in the Kansas WIC program. WIC clients who volunteer in the community garden are given the first pick of the fresh fruits and vegetables harvested. The remaining produce is distributed to clients through the Health Department. To date, the garden has produced over 20,000 lb. of fruits and vegetables for donation.

This year, just days before the WIC Garden’s 2020 season-opening, COVID-19 stay-at-home orders went into effect. The WIC clients and staff were no longer meeting in-person staff and the garden was closed to the public for nearly three months. Extension staff worked to maintain the garden and plant a few items—hoping that the pandemic would blow over in a short time. But with passing months, it became clear that the health crisis would endure and the need for fresh food in the community was at an all-time high.

 

Extension staff planted a few beds to slow maturing staple crops like potatoes expecting a quick return to normal activity.

 

 

Office workdays helped with garden upkeep and provided a fun distraction during the early days of the lockdown.

 

In accordance with safety protocols, the Garden Organizing committee allowed for small groups of volunteers to return to the garden and grow food for donation at local pantries in Olathe. Some regulars WIC volunteers and other brand new volunteers stepped in to meet the need despite the overarching challenges and risks.

 

Return of community volunteers in June (front left to right) Louis Seibel, Linda Featherston, Taryn Bissing and Trish Unruh—planting strawberries following COVID safety protocols.

 

 

 Anthony Wittman, Garden Volunteer, in front of this year’s 50 ft wall of zinnias.

 

Louis Seibel, Volunteer Garden Manager since 2014, showing off carrots before making his weekly pantry deliveries.

 

Thank you to these community members, the garden thrived, producing bumper crops of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, sweetcorn, leeks, garlic and cantaloupe. They planted strawberries, peaches, pears and apples for future harvests. Overall, the volunteers helped grow, package and deliver over 3000 lbs. of produce for donation. And moreover, the lush garden plot has provided a healing space and scenery for neighboring residents at Evergreen Assisted Living and the essential workers who provided service to the County throughout this pandemic

 

This year’s regular volunteer team planting fruit trees (peaches, Asian pears and apple) with Extension and Giving Grove staff.

This year, we are especially thankful to the WIC Garden Volunteers for their commitment to care for the garden and to producing foods for others during this turbulent time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K-State Research and Extension Johnson County Master Gardener logo

Have questions? The Garden Hotline is staffed by trained EMG volunteers and Extension staff who will assist you with questions.

Phone: (913) 715-7050

Email: garden.help@jocogov.org