Newly expanded community garden at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center grows to meet our community’s needs
For 16 years, the community garden at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center has been a gathering space for garden enthusiasts and those dedicated to growing healthy, local produce for their kitchens and flowers for their homes. Earlier this year, we expanded the garden to include six new plots, two of which are accessible to gardeners in wheelchairs or those with different mobility needs.
Our partners with the City of Wyoming, Age Friendly MN, Chisago County SHIP, and the Lakes Volunteer Association generously funded $25,500 to make this possible. In addition to the new plots, the gift helped purchase garden supplies and helps support the maintenance and upkeep of the garden space. Because of our community’s support, we provide membership at a low cost to participants, many of whom do not have access or the ability to grow their own food at home.
Kari Skoog, one of the 45 Chisago County Master Gardeners (CCMG), has been volunteering her time at the Wyoming Community Garden for the past two years. Currently CCMGs spend many hours each summer assisting gardeners at five community gardens across the county, answering questions, identifying weeds, insects, plant diseases, and providing research-based information on gardening best practices.
"I think this is one of the only community gardens in the area connected to a hospital,” Skoog said. “We know there’s a connection between having access to healthy food and the overall health and wellbeing. There’s such a natural link between a community garden and local hospital. I hope to see more of this in the future.”
Skoog periodically hosts gardening classes helping others learn about planting, soil health, harvesting, and more. Members purchase a plot for the season, select their own seeds to grow, and have the opportunity to learn gardening skills from an expert. Once the harvest is ready, families can take home anything they grow or opt to donate the produce to local food shelves.
For gardener and community member Colleen Marshall, the garden has given her the chance to continue doing what she loves.
“This garden, it’s just everything,” Marshall said. “I’ve been gardening my whole life. But now I live in a townhome so it would have been really difficult to keep doing it. But then I heard about this place, and it has it all. It has a water source, tools, fencing, composting, and so many lovely people who share and connect with each other. I feel so lucky.”
Marshall is especially excited about her upcoming harvest of squash, which she will save and freeze to cook later in the year.
"Making this happen was an incredible team effort.” said Robb Linwood, a city administrator with the City of Wyoming. “We had challenges, but everyone was fantastic. It is a great story of people working together to create such a special place for our community.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the garden space or how to participate during the growing season, reach out to Emily Carpenter at Emily.carpenter@fairview.org for more details.
M Health Fairview is committed to addressing the social determinants of health, which are factors outside the clinic and hospital that impact a person’s health and wellbeing. Providing our community the opportunity and skills to grow their own produce is one way we are reducing barriers and advancing access to healthy and nutritious food.
