photo by: Bremen Keasey

Just Food leaders were joined by Lawrence Chamber of Commerce officials and a representative from Tito's Homemade Vodka to celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon for an addition of new 36 gardening beds for a community garden at 1000 E. 11th St. Danielle McCarville, Just Food's community access manager(pictured with scissors), helped the expansion come to life, and the extra plots will grow more produce for the food bank.

Dozens joined Lawrence-based food bank Just Food on Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new community garden right in front of the food bank.

The garden will provide 36 new beds as part of the food bank’s “Just Grow” program, said Aly Curbow, Just Food’s director of development. It was made possible in part by a donation from the Austin, Texas-based company Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which has provided support to Just Food since 2019.

Christina Crean, a regional manager with Tito’s, said she came in from Austin for the opening and was honored to be a part of the celebration of a “beautiful addition to Douglas County.”

Some of the beds will be available for people in the community to grow plants, while others will be maintained by Just Food to supply produce for the food bank. Along with produce, the garden will have native plants in some plots and include a “tea garden” that will host classes on making teas with plants. And Danielle McCarville, Just Food’s community access manager, told the audience that four of the beds were elevated for ADA accessibility.

photo by: Bremen Keasey

Some of the new garden beds installed at Just Food’s community garden. Four of the beds were raised so they could be ADA accessible.

Lawrence City Commissioner Lisa Larsen said the new expansion would help “take (the program) off the charts” in terms of how many people can use the garden facilities, and she is excited to see the educational opportunities and how much local produce can be grown for those who need it in the community.

“It’s so important that Just Food continues to maintain and grow,” Larsen said.

McCarville also spoke about a special connection to gardening she has through her father, who loved working in the garden. She said that when she was starting her role at Just Food about a year ago, her father was struggling with lung cancer and his condition was getting worse. Since his death, she said, she has kept his watch with her when she is working so he can be a part of her efforts.

She likes to think he is cheering on the people tending the new garden, McCarville said. And, in her experience, many people do need some encouragement to get started growing food.

Many people using the food bank have come up to ask what was going on out front while the beds were being built, McCarville said. When she explained it was for gardening, she said some people felt hesitant about getting involved, saying they’ve tried it before and ended up accidentally killing their plants.

But McCarville said multiple local groups, including Native Foods and the Compost Collective, are expected to hold classes with Just Food to teach people the skills they need. She believes the beds will provide a great way for people to learn something new, build community and make Lawrence’s food sources more self-sustaining. She is hoping people will be willing to give it a try and “get dirty” in the name of growing both food and community bonds.

“That’s what we’re here for, to help each other,” McCarville said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey

Some of the new installed garden beds at Just Food’s community garden. The garden was made possible from a donation from Tito’s Handmade Vodka.