Listen to this article
Garden grows food for a Colorado community while fostering learning and connection.
Morning dew glistens on rows of spinach, zucchini, tomatoes and more at The Salvation Army
Broomfield (Colorado) Corps garden, where over 25 beds burst with life. During peak season, the garden produces more than 100 pounds of fruits and vegetables a week.
Serving as more than a source of food, the land becomes a classroom for kids in Salvation Army camps and programs, and offers volunteers a place to connect in nature while ensuring neighbors don’t go hungry.
Without a food pantry at the corps, Broomfield Corps Officer Captain Miguel Morales said he looked for ways to maximize the garden’s use and ensure the harvest reached those in need.
“The crops started to take off this summer and we began seeing an abundance of produce,” Morales said, noting that a PVC irrigation system helped growth.
He began involving kids in the after-school program by planting seeds and caring for the garden, giving them hands-on experience with growing food and healthy eating.
“The kids love getting outside and getting their hands in the soil,” he said. “It’s a fun way for them to learn and simply enjoy nature.”
He said one of their favorite projects was creating bug traps to protect the crops from pests. He added that he also includes lessons about where food comes from and why it’s important for everyone to have access to healthy, fresh produce.
While kids and Home League participants took food home for their families, there was still an abundance of produce.
“We realized the garden could reach more homes, and we wanted to share the harvest with the community,” Morales said, noting that they grow items that are often less accessible or more expensive in some stores, such as garlic and eggplant.
In early 2024, he learned that Broomfield FISH (Fellowship in Serving Humanity), the largest food pantry in town, needed fresh produce, so he reached out to form a partnership.
Just two miles from the corps, Broomfield FISH operates a self-shop style pantry serving up to 100 families daily.
“Working together and collaborating with The Salvation Army means more food on the table for so many.”
Dayna Scott, Executive Director at Bloomfield FISH
Now, volunteers with the food pantry work alongside Morales and Salvation Army volunteers to maintain the garden, harvest the crops and prepare produce for distribution.
“We share a mission of feeding families and bringing hope to the community,” said Dayna Scott, Executive Director at Bloomfield FISH. “Working together and collaborating with The Salvation Army means more food on the table for so many.”
She recalled a recent visit when a young girl at the food pantry chose strawberries and grapes from the garden instead of bakery items.
“Everyone is so excited and grateful when they see what they can pick,” Scott said. “We always let visitors know it came from the local Salvation Army garden.”
Learning that the produce is grown locally has even inspired some Bloomfield FISH customers to join in.
“Dozens of volunteers visit the food pantry and decide to come help us out in the garden,” Morales said. “We’re seeing a connected group that wants to be a part of the effort.”
Lynn Winterboer, a garden volunteer who first got involved through the food pantry, said she helps out because everyone deserves access to fresh produce.
“Being able to enjoy the peace and serenity of the outdoors is so enjoyable,” she said. “Especially while knowing we’re helping make a difference in food security.”
She added that garden volunteers often chat and get to know one another, which helps create a strong sense of camaraderie.
“The garden has really become a multi-use space,” Morales said. “It’s great to see so many people enjoy it and benefit from it.”
For the frigid Colorado winter months, he said they will move certain crops, such as garlic and cabbage, to an indoor garage where kids and volunteers can continue tending them until they are transplanted in the spring.
In the future, Morales hopes to establish a food pantry at the corps and secure grants to upgrade the irrigation system to an automatic setup.
“We’re seeing how the food we grow is helping the community,” he said, “and we’re eager to keep it going so everyone can have something healthy to eat.”
Do Good:
- It’s because of people like you that The Salvation Army can serve more than 27 million Americans in need each year. Your gift helps fight for good all year in your community. It’s an effort to build well-being for all of us, so together we rise—and that good starts with you. Give to spread hope with a donation of funds, goods or time today.
Download this page as a PDF
