The Pair Center got its start with a 40-acre donation of land from the Wichita Area Development Corp., according to McKernon. Farmers Ray and Dottie Reed donated the other 80 acres.

In a community garden in northwest Wichita, gardeners get an added bonus when using one of the plots available at Northwest Free United Methodist Church, 3722 N. Tyler Road.

It dates back to 1928 when Orie Johnson, a farmer who had a simple fruit and vegetable stand, made the shift from truck farmer to garden center owner. Now, Marty Johnson, Orie’s grandson, runs ...