At Wheatsfield we recognize the value of teaching our youngest about where their food comes from. So when the Volunteer Center of Story County, Prairie Rivers of Iowa, Resource Conservation and Development and United Ames asked us to be sponsors of a new school garden at Kate Mitchell Elementary we said yes!

All 300 students at Kate Mitchell participated in activities during the groundbreaking on May 6 (pictured above) which included painting garden art, starting seeds, mulching, and voting on the name: the Kate Mitchell Community Garden. Parent and neighborhood volunteers as well as staff from Wheatsfield Co-op assisted students with these tasks. The fall of 2011 will be the students first chance to taste the fruit of their labor in their cafeteria. Students will also set up a farm stand for the surrounding neighborhood.

Wheatsfield is one of four financial sponsors of the project along with Hands on Network, Prairie Rivers of Iowa and R&C Landscape and Lawn Care. In addition, the co-op sends staff members to volunteer at the garden throughout the seasons.

To sign-up for any volunteer opportunity, please email: schoolgarden(at)vcstory(dot)org or call: (515) 268-5323.