Last week marked the official start of spring, and as the days grow longer, our thoughts naturally turn to our gardens.  From selecting flower varieties to planning our vegetable harvests, we’re eager to dig our hands into the soil.  But what if our gardens could do more than just nourish our own tables?  What if they could also feed our neighbors in need?    

The Grow a Little Extra (GALE) Campaign encourages communities to fight food insecurity by dedicating a portion of their gardens to growing produce for those who need it most. It is a collaborative project between the Wyoming Hunger Initiative and the University of Wyoming Extension’s (UW) Cent$ible Nutrition Program (CNP) and Master Gardener Program–Wyoming Hunger Initiative spearheads the campaign and the University of Wyoming Extension provides expertise in horticulture, nutrition, and local community vitality.

The Power of Home Gardens

Home gardens are more than pretty flowers and juicy tomatoes—they’re transformative.  They turn soil into sustenance and cultivate compassion, resiliency, and community bonds.  During last year’s GALE Campaign, Laramie County gardeners made a significant impact by donating over 1,700 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks.  Individuals and families received a bounty of extra tomatoes, lettuce, and more.  Donations found their way to St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, Ambitious Diversities Purple Pantry, Needs Food Pantry, Veterans’ Rock, True Vine Food Pantry, and the COMEA Shelter.  Additional recipients will be added in 2024, including the Element Food Pantry and the Laramie County Community College (LCCC) fnbo Food Pantry.

Campaign Details

The Grow a Little Extra Campaign runs from March to October (or until your last harvest comes in).  UW Laramie County Extension CNP Educators Jill Person, Tammy Ware, and Kelsi Goldfarb, along with Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Hannah Morneau, provide the heartbeat of the Laramie County portion of the campaign.  They recognize that gardening isn’t just about tending to plants; it’s about tending to our communities. 

They are encouraging gardeners—be they beginners or seasoned pros—to choose to become hunger heroes this year by donating a little extra produce to the local community.  To make it a little easier, the GALE Campaign is providing a limited number of free seeds of six produce varieties suited for our short-growing season.  These seed packets are available for pickup at the UW Laramie County Extension Office. Alongside your donated produce, UW Laramie County Extension CNP Educators provide recipe cards for cooking inspiration. 

The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens will also have a limited number of GALE seeds available and will serve as a donation drop-off location. Isaiah Smith, Horticulture & Operations Supervisor, said, “This is a fantastic program to partner with. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is always looking for new ways to engage with, and give back to, our community and it really is easy for anyone to ‘grow a little extra’ in their home garden to help out others with food insecurity.”

How to become a Laramie County Hunger Hero

1. Identify extra growing space: Take a fresh look at your garden.  Are there unused corners that could yield more than just marigolds?  Perhaps you have extra pots or containers that would be perfect for growing determinate tomatoes.  Identify these spaces to maximize your produce yield.  This wide-bed gardening article from the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens may also offer new insight into getting more out of your growing space.

2. Select, plant, and care for your crops:  You’re welcome to donate produce of any variety.  Choose your favorite vegetables or use the free seeds offered by the GALE Campaign.  Opt for short-growing season varieties.  For specific growing instructions, refer to the information on your seed packet.     

3. Harvest and Share: When your produce is ready, donation drop-off locations are:

• UW Laramie County Extension Office — 1400 East College Drive, Suite 406, Cheyenne (their office is located in the Pathfinder Building on the LCCC Campus); drop-off times are Monday – Thursday from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm; or

• Cheyenne Botanic Gardens — 710 S. Lions Park Drive, Cheyenne; please drop-off donations at the front desk of the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory; drop-off times are Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm; or

• Element Food Panty — 600 E. Carlson Street, #100C, Cheyenne — please call (307) 200-8840 to coordinate drop-off days and times.  They also have a Facebook page with additional information on their hours.

The produce will be weighed and matched with Laramie County anti-hunger organizations for distribution. If you have a larger donation (more than 5 pounds), contact the UW Laramie County Extension Office CNP Educators at (307) 633-4383; they may arrange pickup from your location.

Tips for Donating Produce

1. Quality matters:  Treat your donations with care.  Harvest in the cool morning or evening to preserve flavor.  Handle produce gently to avoid bruising. 

2. No washing or processing: Please do not wash or process your donations.  Store unwashed veggies in a cool, dry place to prevent spoilage. 

3. Prompt Delivery: Deliver produce promptly to maintain freshness.

Conclusion

The Grow a Little Extra campaign is simple yet impactful.  If you have an acre or a windowsill, your garden can make a difference. Please contact the UW Laramie County Extension Office at (307) 633-4383 with questions.  And if you’re a Laramie County Master Gardener, 1 pound of produce equates to 1 hour of volunteer time, so remember to record your produce weight in the UW Extension’s Wyoming Master Gardener Volunteer Reporting database.  Join us and become a hunger hero! 

Author: Suzanne Sauls, Laramie County Master Gardener

Additional Resources:

• Wyoming Hunger Initiative’s “Grow a Little Extra” Campaign Website
• UW Laramie County Extension Office: https://wyoextension.org/laramiecounty/, street address: 1400 East College Drive (Suite 406), Cheyenne, WY
• “Wide-Bed Gardening for Easier Gardening and Higher Yields,” Garden Tips from the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, 2003, available for download from https://www.botanic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Wide-Bed-Gardening.pdf