A seed planted years ago about the need for a community garden at the De Soto Farmers Market has finally taken root.
At the end of December, D&S Fencing Co. of Festus installed a fence around two storage sheds just behind the Farmers Market, 520 N. Main St., at a discounted price, said Cara Ahern, assistant market manager.
“We plan on putting in at least 18 or so raised beds, as well as some benches and hopefully a kid’s area like a sandbox and some other active education tools for kids,” she said.
The Farmers Market is a program operated by Get Healthy De Soto Inc., a nonprofit group established in 2004 to encourage healthy lifestyle choices in the community.
Ahern said the market previously received an equipment grant through the University of Missouri Extension for six raised beds, rain barrels, hoses and gardening equipment.
“So now that we finally have a fence, we can start putting up what we have and start gathering supplies that we need,” she said. “Hopefully the community will get involved and help us to acquire things like soil and seeds, discounted or donated. This year is really all about getting it established and getting things planted in the spring.”
Ahern said she and market manager Morgan Sitkowski plan to reach out to schools, homeschool programs and Scout troops to launch educational programs.
“We also want to start some programs for seniors so seniors can garden,” Ahern said, adding that another idea is to pair seniors with youngsters to learn about and grow food together.
“We also plan on coordinating with the local food pantries and having some raised beds specifically for growing food for the pantries,” she said. “We’ve also talked about donating to the (De Soto Community Center) for homeless people. We definitely want to make sure that some of the food that we grow goes to the people in De Soto who are in need.”
Community’s help needed
Ahern said the Farmers Market has been trying to establish the community garden for several years.
“We hope to get stuff planted in the next couple of months,” she said. “We could definitely use any soil, seeds, any sort of gardening equipment that people have. We also want to establish garden workdays. If anyone is interested in volunteering at the gardens, they can sign up for that.”
For more information about volunteering or donating items, email marketassistant@gethealthydesoto.org or director@gethealthydesoto.org or visit gethealthydesoto.org or find DeSoto Farmers Market on Facebook.
Another way to help is by participating in one of the market’s annual fundraisers.
De Soto Farmers Market’s DC vs. Marvel Trivia Night will test participants’ knowledge of superheroes while raising money for the market and community garden. The event will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Hillsboro Community Center, 10349 Business 21. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $25 a person or $200 for an eight-person table. A cash bar will be available.
Ahern said the family-friendly event will include games and prizes, including a prize for best decorated table.
“We’re going to have a cosplay costume contest, as well as a fan art exhibition during the event,” she said. “Some people like to draw, especially superheroes, so we thought it would be fun if people did have some art, they could bring it and display it. We will have just a little contest for the best rendering.”
The champion sponsor for this year’s trivia night is Emily Brady of State Farm Insurance in Festus.
To purchase tickets for the trivia night, visit zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-dcmarvel-trivia-night-sponsor.