Laura Lentz and Tierra Organic Garden's multifaceted mission

Garden Organics Manager Laura Lentz and her dog Griz in the garden at Tierra Learning Center. The Tierra Organic Garden functions as an outdoor classroom for Tierra's Day Program for adults with disabilities. Thanks to Laura, a lot of the produce harvested from the garden goes to the Community Cupboard food pantry.

Despite its name, the main purpose of the Tierra Organic Garden isn’t to grow produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables just happen to be a fantastic byproduct that works in the Community Cupboard’s favor.

Under the leadership of Garden Organics Manager Laura Lentz, the Tierra Garden is an outdoor experiential space for adults over 18 with intellectual, developmental and sometimes physical disabilities. As an essential part of the Tierra Learning Center’s Day Program, the garden acts as a place for participants to practice physical awareness of their environment, interact with a variety of sensory experiences, and learn more about plants, themselves and each other.

“Being aware of your body in space is hard for a lot of people, and the garden is a great place to practice that,” says Laura.

The 1.5-acre garden grows a range of crops, many of which make it to the Community Cupboard.

“It’s a no-brainer to support another nonprofit that supports vulnerable populations,” Laura said. “It feels like a lateral give, from one non-profit to another.”

Choosing crops that work for everyone

Laura asked MEND Food Programs Manager Rachel Bishop what kinds of produce were in high demand at the Cupboard. Laura chose crops that would be easy for Tierra’s Day Program participants to grow and harvest and that were popular among the food pantry’s shoppers. These were the ones that fit the space, were sturdy, and had a more generous harvest window.

Thanks to Laura, Tierra Garden gives participants the opportunity to spend time in an outdoor space that is made specifically with them in mind. It includes raised beds, wide, flat walkways, and an area with paver stones that are flat and even enough for easy wheelchair access.

“For some people, making it down the path across the garden and to the shade is a big trip for the day,” said Laura. “It’s not about how much work gets done. It’s about making it inclusive for everyone at their ability level.”

In addition to contributing produce to Tierra Learning Center for Day Program cooking activities and a direct buying program for Tierra staff, Laura also regularly provides just-harvested produce to the three adult family homes in Leavenworth: Cornerstone, The Dwelling Place, and the Coyote House, on Tierra Learning Center’s expansive property up Sunitsch Canyon.

The rest of the produce harvested at Tierra goes to the Community Cupboard, even if it’s not one of the crops planted specifically for them. Tierra participates in the Farm to Food Pantry program, a grant-based program that gives the Cupboard money they can use to buy produce directly from local farmers. Laura also donates a fair amount of produce to the food pantry, too, often utilizing MEND’s gleaning program when she needs help harvesting the extra produce.

About a year after starting the partnership with the Community Cupboard, Laura joined MEND’s board of directors. Her job at Tierra, which she describes as “one of a kind,” gives her a unique perspective that she lends to the board as they help fulfill MEND’s mission to meet each need with dignity—something Laura already knows a lot about from her own work.

“It’s such a cool experience and I enjoy being part of a well-functioning board,” said Laura. “I am so proud to be a part of MEND.”