photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Several Free State High School students, pictured Tuesday, October 8, 2024, help harvest vegetables for people in need through a program called Growing Food Growing Health.

Over the summer and into fall, five Free State High School students have been cultivating a garden to grow and donate sustainably produced food to community members in need.

The students work at a garden located at West Middle School, which is managed by Growing Food Growing Health. The produce in the garden is entirely student-grown and is eventually donated to anyone in the community needing access to fresh, sustainably grown vegetables at no cost. Their “free market” is every Wednesday during the growing season at Edgewood Homes, which is part of the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority affordable housing program.

Growing Food Growing Health is a project of the Community Mercantile Education Foundation, and these innovative gardens function as living classrooms, providing hands-on educational opportunities while connecting students with locally grown fruits and vegetables.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Senior Elinor Russo sorts and weighs produce from the West Middle School garden on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

The students work three days a week in addition to working the market on Wednesdays. On the day before the “free market,” they have two and a half hours to harvest, wash and package the produce.

“It’s an exceptional commitment, (and) these are all high-performing students,” Executive Director of Growing Food Growing Health Nancy O’Connor said. ” … We work when it’s cold, we work when it rains and we work when it’s 100 degrees.”

The Free State High School students supporting the West Middle School garden this year are freshmen Rory Kuhlmann and Arbor Cox, juniors Annah Steele and Felix Mueller and senior Elinor Russo.

In 2024, the student gardeners grew and harvested 3,133 pounds of vegetables to share with the community. In addition to the gardens, the “free market” has received and processed donations from Pearl Clark Community Garden and K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners, adding another 850 pounds to the market. Growing Food Growing Health also purchased 729 pounds of specialty produce like corn and winter squash to supplement their own produce and ensure that customers receive a full bag of vegetables.

This has brought the total weight of produce shared with the community through the market to 4,712 pounds, or over two tons of locally grown produce for anyone in need, O’Connor told the Journal-World in an email.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Freshman Rory Kuhlmann harvests produce on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

While preparing for market, Russo weighs everything from the garden to accurately calculate the total harvest weight. In her third season working there, she not only monitors the weight but also helps keep track of the sources of donations and assesses the quality of the produce. Any items that don’t meet the standards for market are taken home by students and staff.

“What I think is important is that with this project, we are really self-sufficient,” Russo said. “… A lot of what we do is connecting with the community and making sure they know our project exists, so if they need the help they can get it.”

The remaining students work to help harvest and package the produce, such as tomatoes, turnips, chard, kale, peppers and other vegetables prior to the market.

“I always knew that it took a ton of work, like working and growing food, but it’s definitely helped me understand how the food gets onto my table,” Kuhlmann said after nearly completing her first season in the program.

Many of the students echoed that the market is the best part, as it’s the opportunity to connect with the community.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Juniors Annah Steele and Felix Mueller harvest produce on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

“Community is such a huge part of this,” Steele said. This is her third season working in the garden. “It’s amazing what we do for our community and how they help us in return.”

Mueller, who has participated in the program for two seasons, added that the quality of produce is also important, from cleaning to storing it.

“I think it’s important how we make sure that our work is high quality, like down to every detail,” Mueller said. “Nancy always says that everyone touches every piece of food, so we always make sure we do our best.”

Elizabeth Berghout, an associate professor of music at the University of Kansas, has helped in the garden for three seasons alongside students working in the program. While she has a garden of her own at home, Berghout said she finds more satisfaction working with vegetables.

The last day Growing Food Growing Health will offer student-grown produce at Edgewood Homes will be Wednesday, Oct. 23. The market will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. rain or shine. No proof of income is required, and no questions are asked.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Several peppers from the West Middle School garden on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.