About the Big Garden

The Beginning

Nebraska has always been known for its agricultural abundance; The land is fertile, and the state’s economy rests on its agricultural industry. Yet within the boundaries of this state of plenty lies an area where people don’t have enough to eat. The metropolitan Omaha area is the location of the only federally designated Enterprise Zone in Nebraska: An economically distressed, inner-city area targeted for revitalization. The population includes communities of color for whom racism is a factor in food insecurity. Poverty rates are high and access to healthy food is a problem for those who need it most.

This need was clear to Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede, Executive Director of United Methodist Ministries – Missouri River District, a non-profit organization committed to the eradication of hunger, poverty, and racism. She went in search of a way to address the need, and the Big Garden was born.

The plan for the Big Garden project was laid out early in 2005, with the objective of improving local food security for the most food-insecure populations in the urban Omaha area. Funding came later that year in the form of a substantial grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Big Garden was able to establish and plant five garden sites in the spring of 2006, with the intention of becoming a self-sustaining network of community vegetable gardens that would directly benefit neighborhood residents.

Rev. Ahlschwede and United Methodist Ministries started the project with the knowledge that great support would be required from the community in order for the endeavor to be a success. Thus the Big Garden began with a question mark. And Omaha responded with an enthusiastic “yes.”

The Present

Only three years since its inception, the number of garden sites in the Big Garden network has grown to 22, each located on the grounds of a church, school, or non-profit community organization. Residents of the various neighborhoods are welcome to plant, maintain, and harvest their own plots in the garden, and sites are managed and supervised by a professional staff. Plants are grown using ecologically responsible organic methods, locally produced compost, and rainwater collection. Gardeners can consume, share, or sell the vegetables they grow, and surplus produce is harvested and distributed to food pantries and charitable organizations. In its first two seasons of operation, the Big Garden contributed over 16,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries.

Education and training are a vital part of the Big Garden experience. A Master Gardener and a staff of summer interns are available for day-to-day, hands-on training in the gardens, and to provide educational programming for youth through the various organizations that host the gardens. Education in gardening, food preparation and nutrition empowers participants to garden for themselves and to develop healthy lifestyles. Gardeners are also encouraged to use their gardening experience to develop independent micro-businesses selling the foods they produce at neighborhood markets.

The Big Garden depends on partnerships with dozens of host organizations and hundreds of volunteers from the community. Most garden sites are located in ethnically diverse neighborhoods, and volunteers come from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds. By providing an opportunity for people to work together and build relationships, other issues such as racism and ageism are addressed.

In 2008 the Sierra Club recognized the Big Garden project as one of 50 exceptional faith-based environmental initiatives in the 50 states. The environmentalist group listed the Big Garden effort as the Nebraska example in its report, Faith in Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope to the Planet. The Big Garden was chosen "for exemplary work in community building and nutrition, with an environmental aspect."

The Future

With its roots firmly established, the Big Garden looks forward to new growth and opportunities to serve the community. An ongoing part of the Big Garden mission is to make gardens safe and appealing places for people to gather, work, and socialize in their neighborhoods. The plan for 2009 and beyond includes further landscaping and beautification of garden sites, installation of sculpture and outdoor art, and expansion of educational and social programming. Big Garden sites are steadily becoming neighborhood centerpieces for activities ranging from food preservation classes to live music and art events.

The Big Garden now embraces a future filled with exciting challenges and opportunities. There are new partnerships to build, relationships to strengthen, and needs to address. There is the challenge of finding new sources of funding to sustain the work that has begun. There are new generations of gardeners to train, and new opportunities for community building. The Big Garden continues to grow and evolve in response to these challenges, striving to enrich the lives of countless people in the community for years to come.