Full Spring Ahead in the Garden!

Greetings garden friends!  After what seemed to be an endless winter spring is finally here and its many blessings are abundant in the Garden of Concord!  Since our official “Wake up the Garden” event on March 7^th, we have welcomed 14 new garden families, 23 renewed memberships, and 10 garden angels (that help others to garden with us!)!  We have also been blessed with a donation from S.A.F.E. to be used towards our seeds and supplies along with a grant from North Carolina Community Garden Partners to build a large scale vermicompost (to house lots of worms!).  Praise God for answered prayers in “His sending out many workers (and angels) into His harvest field” (Matthew 9:38)!

And many hands do make light work!  We have already logged in 9 workdays/nights consisting of over 250 total hours shared by 140 garden stewards (plus lots of kids!) prepping beds, pushing compost, weeding, planting, reconnecting, and celebrating the new garden year.  Thanks be to God for our work assignments as well as the overwintered harvests of spinach, mache, and green onions!  

Our early plantings of peas, spinach, carrots, radishes, arugula, spring mix, beets have all popped up along with our plantings of onions, kale, cabbage, Swiss chard, and lettuce transplants.  The strawberries are blossoming and the garlic looks gorgeous!  Recent sowings include turnips, potatoes, dill, and more lettuce, beets, and carrots with a plenty more plantings prepping in the greenhouse!

As we look forward to sharing our newly planted spring sowings, we have been blessed to share our garden in other ways through several speaking engagements and scheduled garden tours, along with an article in the Times News!  Our current vision is to welcome our “BEJ Backpack Kids” as well as all our neighbors in need to grow with us.  We also look forward to the return of CrossWave for another weekend full of shared blessings to include helping out in the garden on Saturday beginning with a garden dedication of our new 16 bed addition! 

Other proposed plantings include the establishment of a garden library, renewal of a junior gardeners program, development of shared leadership, a “Planting Partners Program” involving area businesses, and added infrastructure to include a walk-in cooler and washing station…all God willing!  Our 7^th year beginning brings continued thankfulness and faith in God’s will and purpose for our garden ministry as we reach out to many through the shared working and taking care of His creation as well as feeding many in need in food and fellowship.

Thank you to our many garden friends for your prayers and support of our garden…

It WILL be good!

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

Blessings,

Donna Poe

Garden Coordinator

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

  

Happy Garden New Year!!!

Greetings Garden Friends!  I am most humbled for God’s many blessings throughout the years past in the Garden of Concord!  Praise God for His grace and His leading of many to be stewards of His creation! As our garden continues to prosper and produce overwintered plantings, we look forward to our 7^th year of growing in unity as a community and experiencing the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, while providing healthy food and empowerment to those in need.  Many thanks to all of you that have been a part of this process of answered call in outreach and the hands that have worked, prayed, and supported our garden ministry!

Thank you also to all those that purchased a 2015 garden calendar!  As our only fundraiser, your donations provided the needed funds to purchase our spring seed plantings.  Thank you again! All donations are always most appreciated, as our garden grows solely on individual support and garden memberships.  Come grow with us for only $10 per season or $25 for the year with a one hour weekly commitment and enjoy a share of the day’s harvest.   Or prayerfully empower others to join us and experience God’s love by your becoming a “Garden Angel” (no digging required!) for $50 per year. Your donation will greatly assist in our mission of providing an abundant harvest of fresh produce to our local food pantry, S.A.F.E. along with free garden memberships to its “family members” and others in need of assistance. 

As a ministry outreach, we are participating once again in the annual “Cheers for Chocolate Festival” to be held on Saturday, February 7th from 11-3pm.  Our garden table has been regularly recognized as a festival favorite in the past events, with our featured chocolate flavored fruits and veggies!  Any donations of 2” sized chocolate creations of which a fruit or veggie is used as an ingredient would be most appreciated.  We will also be needing help to set up and serve the treats the day of the festival.  More details and a flier to follow soon. 

We look forward to all the new and continued opportunities that God has planned and purposed for our garden as He provides a means of healing, hope, and happiness through stewardship of His creation and shared blessings to our community.  We especially look forward to planting in our 16 new beds that were built this past fall for the purpose of providing more food to our friends and neighbors in need.  Thank you for everyone for your prayers and support over the past six years.  Please prayerfully consider joining us this year either as a working member, a garden angel, or even just for a garden visit!!! 

It WILL be good!

-Donna Poe, Garden Coordinator

Hidden Treasures in the Garden…

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”  (Matt 13: 44)

Greetings garden friends.  Over the past couple of weeks, we have enjoyed the unearthing of many wheel barrows full of sweet potatoes.  Lots of them!  With lots more to dig!  The mass of endless vines are cut back, and then the excitement begins as many children dig in with hand shovels and smiles of anticipation to find their buried treasures. 

Our sweet find of golden spuds brings to mind the parable of the kingdom of heaven hidden in a field.  Our time spent in digging up our fall favorites are like our coming home to God…and our finding the golden hidden treasure.  You might have to dig before you find it.  You might have to look before you see it.  You might encounter rocks through the process.  It could get muddy!  But once you find it, being where God is, in His kingdom, is the greatest harvest, the real golden treasure, the most precious gift freely given to us by God. 

Among God’s many blessings in the garden this past month, we are joyful to share in new and continued plantings to include the welcoming of baby Charlotte Marie Capps, the sweet new baby girl of proud parents Jonathan and Lauren Capps and sisters Bridgett and Riley.  We are also thankful to God and the Duke Divinity Field Ed office!) for returning Andrew Hammond to our garden and church as an intern for the academic school year!   We are doubly blessed with the appointment of Almuth Zipf as she partners with Andrew in ministry both in the garden and our church.

We look forward to celebrating our fall abundance of blessings and bounty at our 6^th Annual Fall Harvest Dinner next month.  Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8 from 6-8 to enjoy an evening filled with good food and fellowship!  More details will be sent in a flier soon.   Our new garden calendars will  be available soon as well!   Pre-order yours today for $20 and help us plant many seeds next year.

It is never too late to join the garden.  Still plenty to work and take care of..and harvest!   Lots of good greens (collards, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce), herbs, roots (sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips),  and still a few summer fav’s (eggplant, tomatoes, climbing okra, and beans).  Our garden work nights through this month are Tues/Thurs 4:30-dark and Sat 9-noon.

Thank you all for your continued support, love, and prayers for our garden as we continue to harvest hidden treasures and share the love of our Lord and Savior to many!  Come grow with us…come dig with us!  It WILL be good!

Blessings,

Donna Poe

Garden Coordinator