A Legacy that Blooms

When my grandma passed away in June, I couldn’t have imagined the way she would continue to touch lives. My grandparents, Len and Donna Troost, were lifelong dairy farmers who loved kids and, above all, loved the Lord. Their values of nurturing life, faith, and community were embedded deeply in who they were. Little did I know that their legacy would be the very cornerstone of something I have prayed about for a long time at Streams; a hydroponic garden that would impact countless lives through education, nutrition, and innovation.

For two years, I had dreamed about creating a hydroponic garden—a space that could grow fresh produce year-round, educate kids in our SWAG program about agriculture, and provide healthy food grown on campus directly to our Food Center. This garden would be a bridge between our youth programs and our newest initiative, VeggieRX, a “food is medicine” program in partnership with Catherine’s Health Center, designed to help patients combat chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

But funding hadn’t materialized the way I had hoped, until late September. That was when I learned that my grandma had left an incredible, surprise estate gift to Streams. Just two days later, as a result of God’s incredible timing, I was introduced to Bit- Farms and its owner, Tyler Blair. Bit-Farms specializes in building and maintaining hydroponic mini-farms, complete with an educational program that teaches students about hydroponics, horticulture, and agriculture. The match between their mission and ours was undeniable, and another lesson on how God is always at work!

The Streams Fresh Farm, now in action, is a 7-foot-tall frame fitted with LED lights, automated hydroponics, and systems for temperature and humidity control. The aluminum shelves hold a variety of greens like lettuce, basil, and microgreens, each growing at an incredible rate because of their optimal growing conditions. The produce is harvested by the SWAG kids and directed straight to our Food Center, enriching the diets of VeggieRX patients who receive extra servings of fruits and vegetables to help manage their health. It’s an undeniable synergy.

It amazes me that Grandma didn’t even know about my hydroponic garden dream. Yet, she loved Streams deeply and believed in its mission. Her pride in what we do, and her desire to support God’s Kingdom turned into a legacy that has brought new life and opportunities to our programs. She would have loved to see the Streams Fresh Farm in action, watching the SWAG students learn, and knowing that her gift is helping create future farmers.

God’s timing is always perfect, as her gift also coincided with the launch of the Streams Legacy Society – a new initiative inviting donors to make impactful, lasting contributions to Streams. It’s an initiative we’ve been working on all year.

Legacy giving comes in many forms, whether through bequests, beneficiary designations, or estate gifts like Grandma’s. These gifts make it possible to create life-changing programs and sustainable growth at Streams. The Streams Legacy Society ensures that those who share their blessings will continue to touch lives for generations to come, just as Grandma has done through her love and generosity.

To those who feel called to be part of this journey, know that your legacy can bring hope, health, and opportunity to our community, just like my grandparents’ gift has done. It’s a testament that God’s plan unfolds in the most beautiful ways, connecting dreams to reality, hearts to purpose, and generations to the Kingdom.

Grandma would have loved this, and I know she would get a huge kick out of seeing it all come to life. Her legacy is now part of Streams’ heartbeat, and through the Streams Legacy Society, others can share in that joy of giving, leaving behind a testament to faith, love, and enduring impact.

Kurtis Kaechele

Executive Director