What happens when the team from the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm on the WesleyLife Meals on Wheels campus joins the bustle of the commissary at Blank Park Zoo? A day of laughter, teamwork, and a few unforgettable animal encounters.
Inside the Zoo’s Commissary
Feeding the zoo’s residents is no small task. Each morning, about 16 hours of washing, chopping, mixing and more goes into preparing meals for the animals. Volunteers — many of them older adults who have been giving their time, week after week, for years — are key to this process.
On this day, the hydroponic farm crew joined the commissary rotation, prepping lettuce, carrots, apples, and beets. The change of pace was welcomed by the farm team. They shared how different it felt to prepare the lettuce grown in their farm with bare hands. At the farm, gloves are always required; handling the lettuce directly makes the work feel more grounded.
From Farm to Zoo
The partnership between the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm and Blank Park Zoo began in late June when Amanda Kanehl, head grower at the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm, began looking for a composting solution for plants stems after harvest and excess produce. Blank Park Zoo was a natural fit, with its existing composting system for animal waste and its many herbivores. This sustainable collaboration makes every leaf count.
In just over 3 months, the partnership has kept more than 2,239 pounds of lettuce out of the landfill. Of that total, 1,817 pounds have been composted and 422 pounds have been given to guests to feed the goats in the petting zoo. On the day of this visit alone, another 42 pounds of lettuce were prepared for the goats, underscoring just how impactful even one morning of work can be.
Meeting Barnaby
The team’s first stop after the shift was a special visit with Barnaby, the zoo’s oldest resident. This Aldabra tortoise is estimated to have hatched in the early 1940s, making him at least 80 years old and likely well into his 90s. He currently weighs in at more than 500 pounds — most recently recorded at 550 — and still charms every visitor he meets.
Barnaby leaned right in for affection, clearly enjoying shell rubs but especially delighted by a good neck scratch. He remains spirited with age — a reminder that getting older doesn’t mean slowing down for tortoises or for humans.
WesleyLife Mission:
Guided by Christian compassion, we support the independence, health, and well-being of older adults wherever they call home.
Barnaby proves that independence and vitality are possible at every age — whether home is a WesleyLife community for healthy living or a habitat at Blank Park Zoo.
A Giraffe Greeting
The last stop was an unscheduled treat for the giraffes. Sky, the matriarch of the herd, was quick to spot visitors and step forward, eagerly stretching for every leaf of lettuce. Struggling to keep up with her appetite brought laughter to the whole group. By the time the other two giraffes joined in, two thirds of the lettuce was already gone, but Sky was still insistent on nabbing snacks offered to the others, sometimes right out of their mouths! With the treats finished, the small herd contentedly turned back to the grass and shade of their wide enclosure — sending the farm team off with grins almost as wide as Sky’s reach.
Looking Ahead
Blank Park Zoo and the farm team have a vision to grow their connection further. The teams are working on creating a shared volunteer role that would prepare greens at the farm, transport them to the zoo, and then assist in the commissary or visit with animals like Barnaby. The farm team is also exploring designated transport containers that will further reduce waste from plastic liners. The dieticians at Blank Park Zoo are evaluating the farm greens with a goal to incorporate them into additional species' diets. The goats are just going to have to share!
As this partnership between two community nonprofits develops, the ultimate goal remains clear: increased sustainability with free and local greens for the animals and a compost service for the farm.
Why It Matters
The day was more than just a shift in the kitchen — it was a reminder of how partnerships ripple outward. And for the farm team, it was a chance to see their work from a new angle — one that highlighted how their daily efforts in the farm ripple outward to nourish communities of people and animals alike.
