Kitchen Garden Update

This week we stalked most of the tomatoes and planted some additional peppers, Asian eggplants, and marigolds.  

The peppers eggplants and marigolds were donated by Will Summers (one of the farmers that spoke at our Local Young Farmers discussion this spring) from the Stony Point Center who also offered us his tiller whenever we need it.  We were able to secure the greenhouse a bit more by digging it into the ground a few inches (it would stood the wind from this weeks storm).

Today we also turned the compost and began to create a new planting bed where we may want to plant some zucchinis. Mother Nature has taken care of the watering this week.

Next Steps

We need to continue planting additional seedlings, turning the compost, and mixing soil in our new bed.  We should also be thinking about how to create a sitting space by perhaps moving our stone bench.  

If anyone knows of an outdoor table that can be donated, please let us know since this would be great for our garden. 

Again please try to come on Saturdays at about 10 am or Wednesdays at 5 pm. As always stop by any time as you can help turn the compost, weed the vegetable beds, water, or just watch and enjoy how all of our plants are doing.

Have a great rest of the week.

Marc

Growth Project

--by Marcus Panozzo, member of South Church's 2013 Confirmation Class

Ever since I was a little boy I loved watching my dad work outside in the garden and I used to be fascinated with all the different plants in our backyard and I still am today.  So it is no surprise that for my confirmation project I chose something that would tie into justice through food –helping through learning to grow it yourself.

My project had a simple goal, which was to help spruce up the Labyrinth Garden in front of South Church.

As I worked on the labyrinth garden, I wondered if I could design and plant my own labyrinth at home someday.  

It was a lot of work moving mulch, which sort of gives me a glimpse of how tough this kind of work really is, but enjoyable at the same time. Especially when it’s sunny out and a little breezy. Learning about the different plants and herbs is interesting. My friend and mentor Chris helped me a lot understanding the ecology.

It was refreshing to spend some time outside instead of rushing home after church.  

Kitchen Garden Musings

presented by Robin Larkin, of Cabrini Immigrant Services--Roots & Wings partner in the Kitchen Garden, at South Church Celebrates Roots & Wings, April 2013

First Saturday in April.  

Clear.  Chilly.  

The gate opens to the dormant garden space.  

So many possibilities.  

Mark and Pablo are looking at drawings of raised beds.

A green house has been placed

where a tree once stood.

It's warm inside

Ready for new growth.

Doris, Virginia, Solange arrive.  

We stand there --  

Remembering what grew where, what didn’t, why?

Last year, the questioning, the newness.

Would it work?  It worked.  Would people come?  They came.

Would we understand each other? 

Yes.  Si. はい(hai). 예(ye). 是 (shì). جی ہاں (jee haan).

All speak, hear and teach the same language in the garden.

A shiver passes when the wind picks up.  The Spirit… 

English and Spanish warm today’s air

as Mark shows the blueprint.

“It’s beautiful,” Doris says,

“We need to clear the space,” Solange adds.

Virginia has already started.

The garden re-awakens.  Rakes scratch its surface.

Blankets of leaves are removed, then moved to the compost pile.

Uncovering the dirt to start over.

It too was waiting for this reconnection.

“I like the way this smells.”

The stirring of the earth continues, as memories also stir…

Of parents, grandparents, other countries, other backyards,

And their garden smells. 

“We did this at home…”

We are doing this now. 

This can be “home…”

“There’s room for a table now… A meditation space…

Maybe a grill... A mattress in the greenhouse?” 

Just kidding, Linda Jo!

But the talk is of being together in this place…

…This sacred space.

The strength of these women who came,

And then came back with their families.

Our own Easter messengers.

Waving goodbye for now.

“Te amo.  I love you all.  It’s beautiful.”

Cultures together.

Generations together.

Faiths together.

Neighbors together.

Community.  Sustainability. Prayer in Action. 

WE ARE Roots & Wings. 

“Te amo.  It’s beautiful!”