Hope grows in La Crosse Victory Gardens

Strengthening roots in a community cause, the City of La Crosse, businesses and volunteers began planting Victory Gardens to feed the community.

Victory Gardens date back to World War II as a way to answer food shortages. Thus, the City of La Crosse decided to develop similar gardens to instill hope and positivity in the community while providing food for those in need.

Serving as one of six locations, Aptiv staff and volunteers were busy Thursday putting potatoes, onions, carrots, lettuce, radish, kale, and other crops in the ground.

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Cindy Taerud, Aptiv director of marketing and communications, was on-site with her daughter, Sydney spades in hand.

“There is so much food shortage, and there are people in certain parts of the community that have food scarcity,” Taerud said. “They are not close to grocery stores. They are not close to transportation, and there are income level challenges too. The garden here is a perfect location.”

Aptiv is a nonprofit that offers support and training to people with disabilities. The organization’s goal is to help the members it serves live and work independently. Taerud says once their doors open again, Aptiv’s participants will help maintain the gardens.

“This partnership is positive for the community, and it is so positive for us to be able to utilize these gardens and help our participants grow skills they maybe didn’t have,” Taerud said.

Once fruits and vegetables emerge, anyone from the community can harvest what they need. Additionally, Aptiv has raised garden beds that have been used for years. This year, those crops will also be donated to the Victory Garden.