Green Power Garden Gives Back to Community

When the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s community garden started a few years ago, it was a chance to teach young children how to grow, cultivate and care for produce.

“They wanted to teach them where their food came from,” said Molly Llanas, a master gardener.

But the project soon became much more.

The Green Power Garden, located by a dilapidated former schoolhouse at Milky Way and Lawnsdale roads, is now a central growing place for fresh vegetables to serve at the a day shelter that provides assistance, food, clothing and work resources for the homeless and the needy in the Waukesha area.

The garden sits on land owned by local farmer Larry Spleas. Others along Milky Way Road have contributed toward the garden — some of them who also serve on the board of directors at the Hope Center.

“There are all these people in the neighborhood that are all part of this or started this,” said Llanas, who coordinates the volunteers for the garden. “Everybody kind of has a hand in it or helps.”

Volunteer Needs

The Green Power Garden is mostly tended to by area church groups and businesses. However, it is in need of additional help as produce such as green beans and summer squash are soon ready to harvest.

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Most recently, volunteers harvested 110 pounds of beets that were a hit among the Hope Center’s clients. Working at the community garden is easy — even kids help out, said Sandra Roback, who helps lead the program.

“The word 'gardening' scares people,” said Roback with a laugh.

Even if it isn’t tying tomato plants to stakes, weeding around vegetables or watering the plants, the community garden has other needs. Donations of any type of gardening tools are appreciated, especially garden stakes, buckets, tools and sledgehammers.

Beating the Drought

It’s no secret that Waukesha has been as dry as every other community in southeastern Wisconsin. The community garden faces the same challenges  as nearby farmers and gardeners as they try to harvest quality produce.

“Because of a lack of water, the plants are surviving, but not they are not thriving,” Llanas said. “We are just starting to pick beans. We are just starting to pick tomatoes. It is one of those things where you take what you get — that  is how I look at my garden. Here you want to force the issue because it is for somebody who needs it.”

“We just take it all to the Hope Center,” said Llanas, looking at plants ranging from hot peppers to watermelon and from green beans to tomatoes.

But it’s not all bad. Because they are just watering the plants by hand, the drought’s managed to help kill some plans the gardeners want to see gone.

“The plus is, we have no weeds,” said a smiling Llanas.