Produce from Judy Bratzke’s garden in Evansville.
EVANSVILLE — For 15 years, Judy Bratzke has turned her green thumb into a bountiful gift, offering homegrown produce to her Evansville neighbors at no cost.
Bratzke sets up a table in front of her house whenever she has surplus produce, allowing passersby to take what they need. She also preserves some of her harvest through canning and shares the canned goods with others.
“It’s right next to the sidewalk, so if anybody walks by and they need or want something, they just pick it up. There’s bags out there for them too,†Bratzke said.
The community has shown their appreciation for Bratzke’s generosity.
Neighbors often leave notes, like the one from a couple weeks ago complimenting her salsa. Children paint stones as tokens of thanks and others drop off new canning jars or share part of a dish they’ve created using her vegetables.
“They’re all thankful. I share with them and they share with me,†Bratzke said.
Judy Bratzke’s garden in Evansville.
In addition to her personal garden that has several varieties of fruit trees and vines, Bratzke tends four plots at her friend Terry Babler’s land in Evansville.
There she grows a variety of vegetables and fruits, including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, kale, watermelon, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, onions, tomatoes.
“Terry offered his backyard, which is quite large, for my garden. He’s very accommodating with water and all that kind of stuff,†Bratzke said.
Judy Bratzke
As a 50-year member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Evansville, Bratzke said she values community support, “friendship, neighbors and just helping each other is an important part of giving.â€
Bratzke also tends four plots at the Evansville Community Garden, where she has been donating all of her produce to the Evansville Ecumenical Care Closet for nearly seven years.
Born and raised on a farm in Beloit, Bratzke was immersed in farm life from a young age.
“I loved working in the fields, driving tractors, milking cows, and growing crops,†she said. Her family traveled for her father’s work on various farms before settling in Evansville.
After a career as a graphic designer at Baker Manufacturing Company and raising three children, Bratzke returned to gardening.
“I started gardening 40 years ago, on a smaller scale, but took a break to focus on my kids’ sports. Once they graduated and went off to college, I returned to gardening,†she said.
“A lot of people are just thankful that this is available to them. They don’t have to worry about how much it costs. Community is about working together to help each other out whenever needed,†Bratzke said.