Garden bed project brings fresh produce to Waushara County Food Pantry

A before and after overhead view of the garden bed space behind the pantry.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

A before and after overhead view of the garden bed space behind the pantry.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

A before and after overhead view of the garden bed space behind the pantry.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Tyler Weston, Director of the Food Pantry, and Joe Herman, Sandy Grosenick, Nancy Martinho, and Kathy Shaw from Waushara Gardeners, load compost from the Wautoma collection site.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Marc Johnson, Waushara Gardeners, carefully locates the corners of each garden bed while ensuring they will line up.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Tiffany Malin, Food Pantry, and Anne LeBouton, Waushara Gardeners, place the beds in their predetermined location.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Jeff Nett, Wautoma Kiwanis, uses his garden tractor to quickly place the soil into the beds.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

After the bed is filled Steve and Vicky Deery level the soil.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Flora and Clara Voigtlander, Pine River 4-H, empty the wheelbarrow into the pathways.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Margret Weston finds the correct spacing for each plant while planting a squash in the bed.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Myles Kraker gives the plants a refreshing drink of water.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Jan Novak, Food Pantry Board member, starts to water the newly planted vegetables.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

By the end of July, the pepper plants were sprouting and well on the way to harvest.

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

Posted Monday, August 10, 2026 5:01 pm

Photos by Gary LeBouton, Argus Correspondent

The Waushara County Food Pantry is bringing fresh produce to local families in need through a $3,000 grant awarded from the Adams Columbia Electric Cooperative (ACEC). ACEC awarded the pantry a $3,000 grant made possible by the Operation Round-Up program. This has allowed the pantry to provide a variety of fresh produce to those facing food insecurity in our community.
The grant money supported the expansion from the four beds previously installed and maintained by the Waushara Gardeners since 2025, to an additional 26 raised beds and two fruit trees. Heath Farms donated the garden-ready plants to be installed in the garden.
Volunteer help has been very important for installing, planting, and maintaining the 26 raised beds. Several of the groups that volunteered were the Waushara Gardeners, Wautoma Kiwanis, Pine River Rainbow 4-H, and the Waushara County Treatment Court. From the time the beds were installed in Spring of 2026 to approximately the end of July, pantry volunteers have been able to harvest over 178 pounds of produce.