CHEYENNE — Community leaders and garden enthusiasts gathered Wednesday at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Smith Family Education, Agriculture and Trial (EAT) Garden.
This ambitious new project is designed to foster food security, education and local agricultural innovation, according to a news release.
The EAT Garden represents a significant investment in the region’s green infrastructure. Designed as a living laboratory, the space will serve as a centerpiece for community engagement and hands-on learning.
Partnering with Richardson Construction, groundwork is officially underway and is slated to wrap up by the end of this year, setting the stage for a highly anticipated spring 2027 opening.
A vision for Wyoming’s agricultural future
The garden is more than just a collection of plants; it is a structured environment designed to showcase the resilience and variety of high-altitude gardening.
“The EAT Garden is a pivotal addition to our grounds, allowing us to demonstrate that Wyoming’s climate isn’t a barrier to growth, but an opportunity for innovation,” said Aaron Sommers, director of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, in the release. “This space will provide the tools and the inspiration for our community to cultivate their own sustainable futures, right here in our high-plains environment.”
Some of the key features of the new EAT garden include:
Trial Gardens: Serving as the epicenter of exploration for Cheyenne’s high-plains gardening, this space will be dedicated to testing new cultivars and established varieties of perennials, annuals and food crops. It provides a vital resource for understanding how diverse plant life thrives within our region’s complex growing conditions.
Teaching Beds: These dynamic demonstration gardens will offer hands-on education in essential crop care — from extending the growing season to protecting harvests against Wyoming’s early frosts and hail. Here, gardeners and students will be able to experiment with hardy varieties while mastering professional horticultural techniques tailored to our unique climate.
Bioswale Bumps: In a powerful demonstration of nontraditional food production, these landscaped, shallow channels will be designed to manage stormwater runoff from the garden. By integrating food crops into this filtration system, the Botanic Gardens will showcase how to slow and filter water while simultaneously cultivating a productive urban landscape.
Interactive Trellises: These architectural vine arbors will feature associated ground beds specifically curated to grow grape varieties suitable for Cheyenne’s environment. This interactive feature will offer a literal “walk-through” experience of high-altitude viticulture and vertical gardening.
Naming opportunities available
As the garden takes shape, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is inviting local businesses, families and philanthropists to leave a lasting legacy. Several naming rights opportunities are currently available, offering a unique way to support community wellness and education.
“This garden is built by the community, for the community,” said Annie Wood, Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Foundation executive director, in the release. “By securing naming rights for our trial beds, teaching areas, or our specialized garden zones, our partners are directly investing in the nutritional and educational future of our citizens.”
Available naming areas include:
Trial Beds & Teaching BedsWyoming Historical Agriculture BedWyoming Ornamental WindbreakBioswale BumpsHorticulture ShedWoodland WayMeadow MoodsLooking ahead
While construction will conclude in late 2026, the winter months will be used to prep the soil and finalize interior programming. The community can look forward to a full calendar of workshops, tasting events and youth programs beginning next spring.
For more information on the EAT Garden project, or to inquire about naming rights and sponsorship opportunities, go online to botanic.org/donate or contact Annie Wood at annie@botanic.org, 307-637-6396 or 307-630-8940.
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