Every year, a marvelous cook creates a magical experience in an enchanted garden, manifesting community as children break bread in honor of the summer’s harvest.
Passing plates and laughter, the children enjoy a bounty of local food prepared using donated meats from neighboring ranches and garden produce from area farms to show the power of local food systems.
The annual Kid’s Harvest Dinner in Sheridan is held toward the end of the harvest season. This event began in 2009, shortly after the oasis of a creek-side plot, now called Jackson’s Garden, was deeded by private owners Bing and Betty Jackson. Janet Marsh was a founding member of this nonprofit community garden; as a skillful cook with her own cafe, and coming from a ranching family, Marsh has long been an advocate for building community one meal at a time. Marsh’s vision to bring awareness and celebrate local food systems inspired the organization’s first farm-to-table kids’ dinner, which was sponsored in the early years by the Turner Foundation.
Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders from area schools are invited to attend with their families. Festivities begin with activities such as music, songs, and games. Garden members take groups of children through the beds, talking about different parts of the garden. Everyone sits down at one long and lovingly set table, enjoying the meal family-style, creating a sense of ceremony: passing dishes, sharing food and conversation, taking turns.
This special event has come and gone through the years as circumstances have changed, but in recent years it has returned with renewed energy; organizers have served an average of about 50 kids and 100 parents and members during dinners in recent years. It is now a much-anticipated event at the end of the summer, and Jackson’s Garden works hard setting the table to bring community together.
To learn more about Jackson’s Garden and its community involvement, or to subscribe to the organization’s newsletter, visit jacksonsgarden.org or follow on Instagram @jacksonsgardenmt.
