"It's My Mission": The Garden That Keeps Feeding Chippewa County
Author: Shannon Johnson, Media Specialist
The roots run deep at Spirit of Saint Joseph’s Community Garden in Chippewa Falls. So do the reasons it exists at all. Its history is rich, but its resilience is quite spectacular.
In 2010, Chippewa County faced a harsh reality. U.S. Census data revealed that approximately 10% of residents, or roughly 14,000 people, were experiencing food insecurity.
“They either didn’t have three meals a day, they didn’t eat nutritious meals, or they didn’t know where their next meal was coming from,” said Roger Elliott, president of the Spirit of St. Joseph’s LLC.
That statistic became more than a number. It became a call to action.
“Maybe we can do something about it,” said Elliott.
Around that same time, HSHS asked hospitals throughout its system to establish "Reverence for the Earth" committees focused on environmental stewardship.
“We were known as the Green Team,” said Elliott.
In 2013, the Green Team put their green thumbs to work, planting 24 plots on land near Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Their original vision was simple: families facing hardship could grow their own food.
But there was a problem. “People just don’t have the time to plant,” said Elliott. “It’s more convenient to
get to food pantries.”
So, what changed?
Just as the garden was taking root, HSHS Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph’s Hospitals closed, for good. That meant the end of Saint Joseph's garden, forcing the Green Team to vacate.
But Elliott’s work wasn’t finished.
“We were just going to have to find a new place to do it,” said Elliott.
Elliott and fellow volunteers relocated the entire garden across the street, thanks to an agreement with Chippewa Valley Technical College. They also established Spirit of Saint Joseph's LLC as a nonprofit organization, ensuring the work could continue independently.
Since then, the nonprofit has received support to fund their mission and help Chippewa County residents live well. The community garden partners with over a dozen food pantries and organizations across the county, increasing that access to tons of fresh and healthy food.
Today, Elliott calls the garden a tremendous success. “It doesn’t happen through magic,” said Elliott.
“It’s my mission.”
The garden has already produced hundreds of pounds of fresh produce this season, with its busiest weeks still ahead. Every tomato, beet, cucumber and pepper reflects hours of dedication from 18 volunteer growers, along with several others who help harvest, sort and deliver the food to local families in need.
The garden's roots run deep, but so does the commitment of volunteers like Elliott. Through hospital closures, relocation and years of hard work, one thing has remained constant … the mission to ensure access to fresh, nutritious food.
