The Southwestern College Green Team is teaming up with USD 
465 to begin a School Community Garden in Winfield.
Green Team Southwestern has received a mini-grant from the Kansas Campus Compact and USD 465 has received a grant from Legacy to begin the garden in Winfield.
According to USD 465 Superintendent Marvin Estes, the Legacy grant allowed the district to fence in the plot on the north side of Winfield Middle School. Estes reports that the city of Winfield donated some old light poles for fence support and the school district provided the water supply. Some individuals have made donations already and Estes hopes that the garden will be fully operational this year.
“This is a chance to teach our students how to produce food from the earth and be involved in the community,” says Jason Speegle, director of Green Team Southwestern. “A portion of the food grown will go to a local food bank.”
Speegle also says that some of the food will be distributed to volunteers and some will be sold at farmers markets to financially sustain the garden.
The Green Team is inviting high school and college students and community members to be a part of the garden. Speegle says that volunteers are going to be especially needed during the summer months for watering, planting, and harvesting.
“Jason Speegle and the Southwestern College Green Team have brought new life to the School Community Garden through their labor and grant from the Kansas Campus Compact,” Estes says. “We look forward to continuing this partnership for the service to the greater Winfield community.”
For more information about the garden or to volunteer, contact Speegle at (620) 229-6311.