Help Build “Luna Verde” – Sponsor a Board

Help Us Build the Next 15 Years of the Benson Community Garden

As we celebrate our 15th season as a community garden in Benson, we’re looking ahead. For fifteen years, neighbors have grown food, friendships, and a stronger sense of community here. Now, we need to build the infrastructure that will support the next chapter.

Our current shed, built in 2011, has served us well, but it no longer meets the needs of a growing and evolving garden. Tools are crowded. Equipment storage is limited. There is no protected workspace for repairs, organizing supplies, or brief work sessions during rain or extreme weather.

Luna Verde will change that…

This new 12′ x 10′ structure will serve as a dedicated storage shed and workshop for garden operations. It will safely house our mower, irrigation supplies, hand tools, seasonal materials, and educational equipment. It will also provide a covered workspace for repairs, material prep, and project organization as needed.

Strong infrastructure helps gardens last. Without safe, organized storage and workspace, even the best community gardens struggle. Luna Verde (Green Moon) is an investment in stability, stewardship, and sustainability.

And we would truly love help building it.

If you have construction experience, framing skills, or simply want to lend a hand during build days, we welcome you. If you’re part of a local construction company, supplier, or trade organization, your expertise would mean a great deal. This project is an opportunity to physically build something that strengthens our neighborhood.

Sponsor a Board. Build a Legacy.

Luna Verde will be built on six ground-set posts (48 inches deep), with a raised floor and a roof sloped from west to east. You can help in several ways:

• Donate new lumber
• Contribute used or leftover lumber in good condition
• Make a cash donation and we’ll purchase materials
• Volunteer skilled labor during construction

Every board makes a difference.

List of the lumber we need:

FOUNDATION POSTS (48″ deep into ground)

(Must be new for structure stability)

  • Quantity: Two (2): 6″x6″x14′ Ground-Contact Pressure-Treated Posts – estimated cost $80 each
  • Quantity: Two (2): 6″x6″x12′ Ground-Contact Pressure-Treated Posts – estimated cost $70 each

FLOOR STRUCTURE

(reclaimed lumber is acceptable)

  • Quantity: Four (4): 2″x10″x12′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $22 each
  • Quantity: Four (4): 2″x8″x12′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $20 each
  • Quantity: Ten (10): 2″x8″x10′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $14 each
  • Quantity: Six (6): 2″x8″x8′ Pressure-Treated Boards – estimated cost $12 each

WALL FRAMING

(reclaimed lumber is acceptable)

  • Quantity: Forty (40): 2″x4″x8′ Studs – estimated cost $4 each
  • Quantity: Twelve (12): 2″x4″x10′ Studs – estimated cost $6 each
  • Quantity: Fourteen (14): 2″x4″x12′ Boards – estimated cost $8 each
  • Quantity: Six (6): 2″x6″x8′ Boards – estimated cost $10 each

ROOF STRUCTURE (Sloped West to East)

(reclaimed lumber is acceptable)

  • Quantity: Eleven (11): 2″x8″x12′ Boards – estimated cost $20 each
  • Quantity: Six (6): 2″x4″x12′ Boards – estimated cost $8 each

In addition to lumber, we will need a variety of exterior-rated screws, structural fasteners, bolts, and hardware to properly and safely construct Luna Verde. Because we are using ground-contact pressure-treated lumber, all fasteners must be rated for exterior use and compatible with treated wood. If you’re interested in donating screws or hardware, please reach out to us for a detailed list so we can be sure everything meets the proper specifications. – Call 402-714-0290

Why This Project Matters

Luna Verde will allow us to:

  • Protect and extend the life of shared tools
  • Organize irrigation and seasonal equipment
  • Create a safer, cleaner environment for garden operations
  • Secure and protect our mower from the elements
  • Provide a limited, temporary workspace during projects and weather challenges
  • Support educational demonstrations and hands-on learning

Infrastructure may not be glamorous, but it is what keeps community projects strong and sustainable.

If you’ve ever enjoyed the beauty of the garden, harvested food here, volunteered, or simply believe in neighbors growing food together, this is your opportunity to help build something tangible and lasting.

Sponsor a stud.
Sponsor a joist.
Sponsor a post.
Or sponsor an entire wall.

Let’s build Luna Verde together.

How to Donate Lumber

Supporting the build of Luna Verde is simple, and we are truly grateful for any help you’re willing to give. You can donate new or good-condition used lumber directly on site, or contact Kurt and Jenny Goetzinger at 402-714-0290 or bensongardens@gmail.com to coordinate delivery.

If you prefer to contribute financially toward the purchase of lumber, you may send funds via Venmo to @BensonCommunityGarden (last four digits if prompted: 0290), or write a check payable to Benson Community Garden and mail or drop it off at 6004 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, NE 68132-1234.

Our garden operates on an annual budget of approximately $1,400, which covers essentials like insurance, taxes, tools, and basic operations. That means every board, every dollar, and every act of support makes a meaningful difference in helping us build and sustain this space for the community.

Thank you!