Living Food Pantry

The Living Food Pantry is a city-operated initiative in Mauston, Wisconsin, located at Marachowsky Park on Liberty Street. The project transforms a 2-acre public park into a free food resource by offering 25 fruit-bearing trees and berry bushes, including apples, cherries, pears, peaches, blackberries, and raspberries for community members to pick. Completed in 2025, this innovative approach to addressing local food insecurity differentiates itself from traditional community gardens by being maintained by the city for all residents. The project has been recognized with awards for its work in sustainable urban forestry and community engagement in an area designated as a rural food desert.