Red Dirt Master Gardeners to enhance Community Garden with grant funds

The Red Dirt Master Gardeners (RDMG) are excited to announce the receipt of a mini-grant from Rooted in Wyoming. This grant will support the construction of garden beds within the geodesic dome at the RDMG Community Garden, a project that promises to extend the growing season and enhance community outreach.

Kim Bartlett, RDMG Secretary, explained the scope and impact of the project: “We built a geodesic dome in our Community Garden at the end of 2023. Now, we need to build beds within the space to make it usable. The funds will be used for materials only, with volunteer labor for the actual building.”

The planned construction includes 10 raised beds inside of the dome. These beds will enable the RDMG to provide plants for their springtime fundraising efforts, and to grow produce for the Grow a Little Extra (GALE) donation program later into the fall.

“The dome will extend our growing season, allowing us to show local gardeners the benefits of using a geodesic dome,” said Bartlett. “Cut flowers can be sold at the RDMG farmers market booth, and extra vegetables generated can be contributed to the GALE program.”

Since 2021, RDMG has donated 2,231 lbs of produce to GALE, benefiting the Senior Center, Senior Apartments, WIC, HeadStart, People for People, and local food pantries. The addition of the dome beds is expected to boost these donations significantly.

Beyond increasing produce donations, the geodesic dome beds will serve educational purposes. They will be used to teach Community Garden members, middle and high school FFA students, HeadStart students, and attendees of public workshops about the advantages of this innovative growing structure.

RDMG, a local nonprofit funded primarily by donations and grants, is committed to gardening education for all ages. Their efforts include running the Community Garden, overseeing the local Farmers Market, maintaining public gardens, promoting community beautification, participating in the County Fair, and hosting the annual Farm to Fork fundraiser.

Rooted in Wyoming’s mission to connect communities through local food perfectly aligns with the goals of RDMG’s geodesic dome project, emphasizing the importance of community support in fostering educational opportunities and promoting sustainable practices. To support Rooted in Wyoming, visit WyoGives to make a donation on Wednesday, July 10th, or visit rootedinwyoming.org.