Each day, there are more and more leaves dropping and blowing around. And each night, the temperature seems to dip just a little bit lower.

These are sure signs of fall in Iowa. The blowing leaves and dropping temperatures also mean that the gardening season is ending.

There is one group of local gardeners that has reason to be especially proud of their efforts this year as they wrap up their work with the soil. They are the Webster County Master Gardeners who put their talent to work to help people whose circumstances have become so dire that they’re never sure where their next meal is going to come from.

Last spring, the Master Gardeners planted the Webster County Growing Together Donation Garden. They got started with the help of a $4,000 mini grant from the 2019 Growing Together program, which is part of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener initiative.

The garden was planted near Fourth Avenue South and Seventh Street, on a site that was the first community garden in Fort Dodge.

From the outset, the Master Gardeners declared that all the bounty from that garden would go to The Salvation Army and the Lord’s Cupboard.

Then they proceeded to plant tomatoes, zucchini, squash, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots and beans.

The result of the gardeners’ labors was more than 140 pounds of fresh produce.

That is an impressive amount. We are impressed by the amount of work and talent the master gardeners invested in this project to produce that amount. On behalf of the people who will enjoy this nourishing food, we say thank you.

We also hope the Master Gardeners will do this again next year.