Following last year’s successes at Church of the Advent, Crestwood (Nov. 2009 Seek), and Christ Church, Cape Girardeau (July 2009 Seek, p. 7), many more plans for gardens are springing up around the diocese.
St. Matthew’s, Warson Woods. For over a year now there has been interest expressed in developing a community garden. We will be entering into a joint venture with Rohan Woods School to plant, harvest and sell the bounty produced on our land with their help. All proceeds will go to the food pantries that serve this area. The garden project will start with four rised 4×8 beds of vegetables and herbs.
Teams from both the school and church will work together in watering and weeding the beds. Lesson plans will include: how seeds germinate; studying decomposition and soil changes; the economy of running a weekly farmers’ market.
After this test year, the parish hopes to grow into running a farmer’s market. “We’re going to use our greatest assets, our land and people in new ways in service of others,” said the Rev. Doris Westfall, rector. “This project is inter-generational, collaborative, and brings us more directly in to the life of the Warson Woods neighborhood. We’re no longer the church you cannot see.”
St. Martin’s, Ellisville, is nearing final approval to break ground in the back yard for a community garden in a joint relationship with Bridgette Kossor of “Garden from the Ground Up.” The garden will be divided into plots and one plot will be for St. Martin’s to raise food for Circle of Concern.
St. Mark’s, St. Louis, had applied for a New Ventures in Community Ministry Grant, in part for community gardening. When they learned they hadn’t received the full amount they went ahead to apply for and win a grant from Gateway Greening. The good news this month was the investment account which funds these grants exceeded expectation, and $1500 was awarded to St. Mark’s. The parish began planning this project before Christmas, and canvassed the neighborhood for opinions and interest. They are planning the garden build on April 8th.
Church of the Advent, Crestwood. The 2010 Advent Community Garden is in
the planning stages at this time. We have been blessed with a large gift of vegetable seeds. It appears we have more than enough, including sunflower seeds. Working together this season, we can continue to grow our support for Feed My People.
Is your parish missing from this list? Please add in the comments below!
Tags: Environment, Garden, Green, Hunger, Mission
