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Community Food Forest and Learning Center
What we are building
Growing Food. Growing Knowledge. Growing Community.
For generations, the land surrounding Swedeburg Covenant Church has been part of the story of this community. Now, we're dreaming about how a portion of our church field can be cultivated in a new way—one that nourishes our neighbors, teaches practical skills, brings generations together, and cares well for the land God has entrusted to us.
The Swedeburg Community Food Forest & Learning Center is a developing community project that will transform approximately 1.6 acres of our property into a productive, welcoming space filled with fruit and nut trees, berries, vegetables, native plants, pollinator habitat, and other perennial food-producing plants. Unlike a traditional garden that must be replanted each year, a food forest is designed to grow more established and productive over time, creating a diverse and sustainable landscape that can serve our community for years to come.
But our vision is about much more than growing food. We hope this becomes a place where people grow, too. We envision children learning where their food comes from, experienced gardeners sharing what they know with someone planting for the first time, neighbors learning about composting and food preservation, and people gathering around tables for farm-to-table meals. We want to offer hands-on opportunities to learn about gardening, cooking, soil health, pollinators, sustainable agriculture, and caring for creation.
And what we grow will be meant to be shared. A central part of this project is increasing access to fresh, nutritious food in Saunders County. Produce from the Food Forest and gardens will help support our local food pantry and other community food needs, while creating opportunities for neighbors to participate in growing, harvesting, serving, and sharing the abundance together.
Most importantly, this isn't a project we simply want to build for our community. We want to build it with our community. The vision is still growing, and there will be opportunities for individuals, families, schools, 4-H and FFA students, local organizations, businesses, gardeners, farmers, and neighbors of every age to participate. Whether you know a great deal about growing food or absolutely nothing, there will be a place for you here.
We're planting more than a garden. We're cultivating a place where food, knowledge, generosity, faith, and community can grow together.
And we're just getting started.
Partner with us!
The Community Food Forest & Learning Center is something we are building with our community, for our community and we would love for you to be part of bringing this vision to life.
Your financial gifts will help transform our church field into a thriving space for growing fresh food, teaching practical skills, caring for creation, and bringing neighbors together. Gifts will help provide trees, berry bushes, seeds and plants, irrigation, fencing, tools, educational resources, and other infrastructure needed to establish and sustain the Food Forest.
To make a financial gift, visit the GIVE tab and select “Food Forest Initiative” when giving.
Prefer to give something tangible? Visit our Amazon Wish List to purchase specific tools and supplies that will be put directly to work as we develop the Food Forest.
Whether you give financially, purchase something we need, volunteer your time, or simply help us spread the word, you can be part of growing something that will nourish and serve our community for years to come.