It's that Thyme!

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?  It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.  Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

Greetings garden friends.  On Saturday, March 7^th, we invite the community to “Wake-up” the Garden of Concord for its 7^th season of plantings of God’s many blessings!  We look forward to welcoming back our gardeners and hopefully meeting many new members!   We will have door prizes, fresh hot pizza from our brick oven, yummy snacks, kid’s crafts and activities, garden tours, and opportunities to work in the garden.  The fun starts at 10am and continues till 1pm.  More details on our flier posted under "Pages" to the right of this page!

It has been a blessing to be the coordinator for our garden over the past 6 years.  As we are many parts of the body in Christ, our garden ministry would not be possible without the grace and leading by God along with the many prayers, support, and gifts shared by our garden members, church family, and community.  The Garden of Concord has provided for many a glimpse of “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like…?” It has been a place of hope, healing, and happiness as we work together in unity as a community as stewards of God’s creation.  It is about witnessing and working with multi-generations, races, and faiths while offering and experiencing Christ’s love in abundance.  It is about “Seeing God in the Garden” as we enjoyed our study led by the amazing “A-Team”, Andrew and Almuth this past month! 

The following passage is from a lovely book shared by one of our garden angels that describes (better than I can!) why and “What we love about Gardening”:

“Before God created man…before He created animals, fish, or the stars in the heavens…

God created vegetation.  God not only provided seed-bearing plants for our sustenance;

He gave us beauty to enjoy in the flowers and the varieties of flora found throughout the

world.  Why do we enjoy gardens of all types?  Imagine God’s delight as He spoke the

words and new growth sprang from the earth.  That delight is mirrored in our faces as

we marvel at what we’ve nurtured, whether an herb in our kitchen window or a large plot

of vegetables we plan to sell (share or donate!).  Each experience is like sharing something

with God.  Gardening gives us the chance to see the miracle of life spring forth from a

seed or cutting.  Watching a plant grow and produce is a vision of God’s care for us as

His children.  Gardening is a way to provide for our family and friends, just as God

provides for us.  Every time we share fresh produce or a plant we’ve raised, we are

extending God’s love to those around us.  I can’t imagine a better way to share Christ

than to give to others from the fruit of our hands.”

(Inspiring Thoughts for Gardeners, 2010 Barbour Publishing, Inc.).

Amen! 

Thyme to garden!  It WILL be good!

-Donna Poe

Garden Coordinator

Where We’ve “Bean” and Where We are “Growing”!

Greetings garden friends!  Despite what that little groundhog might decide on Feb 2nd, our garden is waking up soon and ready to begin year #7!  Praise God for the past 6 years of abundant blessings in shared plantings, harvests, and His love to many as we work and serve Him through our garden ministry. 

What was once a seed planted in the hearts of several in our church years ago, has developed deep tap roots in the lives of many in our community.  Thanks be to God for His creation and His leading of many to witness and experience His blessings through garden stewardship.

We are continually seeding ideas for reaching out and empowering our neighbors in need through the sharing of our garden.  In response to the rapidly increasing numbers and needs of S.A.F.E., 16 new raised beds were built this past fall and will be ready for lots of potato and tomato plantings this spring.  In addition to the open invite to S.A.F.E. families to come grow with us in the garden, we are also looking into other ways of sharing God’s blessings to those directly in our community to include offering free memberships to the families in the Backpack Ministry.  It is our hope that in the process of shared stewardship (and harvests) with these families, S.A.F.E, and any other garden visitors, they will experience God’s love and learn for themselves how to eat/grow healthy food while also helping others in need in our community. 

If you haven’t already, won’t you consider joining us as well!  Our garden membership fees and hours remain the same.  $25 per year with a commitment to work only one hour per week on a Tuesday or Thursday (5:30-7:30) and Saturdays (9-noon)…and receive a share of the day’s harvest! 

While there is much work to be done in the dirt with garden tasks, there are many other ways to help!  Your prayers for God’s continued leading and blessings are always welcomed and most appreciated!  We also prayerfully request your help in providing for our continued plantings and people through “Garden Angel” memberships.  Your $50 donation (or more) will enable others to join as mentioned above along with providing the extra funds needed for our increased plantings and supply costs estimated for this year.  We are also seeking donations from area businesses to be named as “Planting Partners” in which they will be recognized on our brochures and other promotional fliers, etc.  Let me know if you have any leads or connections!

Be sure to check out all our pre-plantings happening this month!  

Event #1: Our Food and Faith Bible study for this year "Seeing God in the Garden," began this past Wednesday led by our amazing "A Team", Almuth and Andrew!  It is not too late to join us as we study the attributes of God that we see on display in the creation story (Genesis 1) and that we can also see in action in the Garden of Concord. The continuing weekly themes and dates are as follows:

We believe God is PROVIDING (Feb. 4)
We believe God is EVERLASTING (Feb. 11). 

We begin with a light soup supper at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall followed by the discussion  from 7-8 pm.  Hope many of you will join us!  It WILL be good!

Event #2:
If only we could grow chocolate!  There will be plenty to pick from for sure at the 4th Annual Christmas Cheers Chocolate Festival on February 7, from 11-3 at Holly Hill Mall in Burlington.   Our garden table has always been a fan favorite with the garden themed chocolates shared at this fun filled family day of sweets and activities.  Please let me know if you would be able to provide 2 doz (or more!) 2" bite sized samples made of chocolate with some sort of fruit or veggie included.  

Event #3:
A few of us from the garden will be hosting a workshop at the 2015 Piedmont Region "Come to the Table" Conference at the Elon Community Church on February 26.  We will be sharing how our garden began, some basics on helping others to begin their own community garden, the theology of creation care, along with pictures and posts about other successful community gardens locally and globally.  The link following will provide more details: http://rafiusa.org/cttt/conferences/
 

Event #4 (The Main Event!):

The Garden "Wakes up!" on March 7th at 10am!!  Our morning will be filled with lots of digging, many plantings, new and renewed memberships, door prizes, snacks, kids activities, and yes..just maybe..some fresh brick oven pizza!!! 

Thank you all for your prayers and support of our garden ministry!  Really looking forward to this year's garden season!  It WILL be good!

Many blessings,

Donna Poe

Garden Coordinator