Johnson County WIC Community Garden, Olathe, Kansas
The WIC Community Garden is a collaboration of many Johnson County agencies including the Sustainability Program, Environmental Division, Health Education Division, Access to Healthy Foods Coalition, K-State Research & Extension and the WIC program (a USDA supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children). Each of these groups had been independently thinking about a community garden for months, and in some cases, years. The garden is managed by the Johnson County Partners of Public Health. The garden is located on public county property close to the Olathe WIC clinic that serves over 4,400 clients. All clients who are interested in volunteering in the garden are welcome and those clients that volunteer will be given priority for receiving garden produce. Education plays a significant role in the purpose of the garden. Grant funds were used to help prepare the site, and to purchase a storage unit, compost bins, irrigation equipment, tools and garden supplies.