By Macy Hopkins, volunteer
Nestled in the heart of Fairway, KS – a community garden is making a big impact. Established more than 20 years ago, the Shawnee Indian Mission Garden has been a longstanding symbol of beauty and history for the community. At the center of the garden is certified Master Gardener Judith Sharp, tasked with maintaining the space for the last ten years. The garden serves as more than just a beautiful greenspace for the community – it’s a purposeful, thriving ecosystem divided into four distinct areas: a rain garden, vegetable garden, native prairie plant garden, and herb garden.
As a standout feature, the Rain Garden, certified through the Monarch Watch of The University of Kansas, brings vibrant colors and utilitarian plants like milkweed to add to the overall functionality of the community space. The plants in this garden use deep root systems to slow stormwater runoff and help purify the water naturally – a key step in protecting local waterways like the running creek bisecting the Shawnee Indian Mission land. The vegetable garden boasts an impressive array of cool and warm season produce, as well as composting zones to close the loop on plant waste. The entirety of the 500 pounds of vegetables and herbs harvested are donated to the Village Church Presbyterian Food Pantry on Mission Road.
The recently restored garden near the West Building exclusively features native prairie plants, grown not only for their beauty but also their critical role in supporting local pollinators and uplifting the region’s biodiversity. Under Judy’s thoughtful care and the continued efforts of over 20 weekly volunteers, the garden continues to thrive – season after season, in both yield and impact towards our local Fairway community. When asked about her philosophy in managing the garden, Judy was quick to echo the words of the late Dennis Patton: “Life is too short for ugly plants.”