In summer 2019, CNP educator Lori Dickinson started a community garden project at the Sheridan County Extension Office. She knew from experience that involving multiple partners was the key to success, and so she cast a wide net.

Among the groups who participated were 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and two groups through Veterans Affairs. Dickinson and Sheridan County Extension created two gardens, one for youth groups and one for veterans. The residential group from the VA came to the garden throughout the summer as part of their recreational therapy.

“I think that they were surprised at how much they enjoyed it,” said Julie Johnson, a recreation assistant at the VA who brought veterans to the garden.

Veterans from the residential group were active in harvesting and saw it as a way to pay it forward to other veterans in the community.

“They were able to take some of the produce themselves, but they wanted to make sure that the other produce that they picked went to other veterans in the area,” said Dickinson.

In total, over 1,200 pounds of produce from this garden was donated to partner agencies and people with limited resources in Sheridan.