Volunteers at the Dunn County Jail Garden along with jail residents and community volunteers will be putting seedlings and seeds in the ground soon.

The Jail Garden is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit and is supervised by the Sheriff’s Department Jail Program Director, Heather Pyka. The goal of the garden is to provide the community with fresh produce while teaching jail residents the fundamentals of gardening. Alongside Heather is volunteer coordinator and overall ‘garden wrangler’ Kathie Metzger, who by day works at West Wisconsin Telcom.

Started in 2010, the garden has produced fresh vegetables and flowers for Stepping Stones, our local food pantry, being delivered fresh the day it is picked. Bouquets are also made from flowers grown in the garden.

In 2025, 31 Huber residents spent 429 hours working in the garden. Eight volunteers were there for 165 hours with 2700 pounds of food being donated.

Volunteers are welcome and needed for planting and weeding, working along side the jail residents. Volunteers supply seeds and plant starts including onions, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and more. There are apple trees and chickens as well.

The amount of time as well as the days you volunteer are flexible. It is fun, and rewarding on many fronts, including building community and growing food that helps our community through Stepping Stones.

To volunteer contact Heather Pyka at the Dunn County Sheriff’s office 715-231-2942 or [email protected].

Sue Foxwell is a Jail Garden volunteer.