Does your church have a community garden? Now is the time to start one!
Times are hard for many local communities all over our nation (and around the world) as economic recovery has proved to be an illusion for many. Unemployment continues to sky-rocket and the need for social service programs is growing. But to meet this challenge a growing movement of churches is taking the timeless tradition of small-scale food production and giving it a missional twist.
Rising to meet the needs of local food banks, their own members and as a means of outreach to their communities- many congregations are taking the idea of local, sustainably raised food and cultivating the land as a means to enact the Gospel and the Kingdom love of Jesus. Take a look at one Canadian church’s efforts to do just that (video by Canadian media outlet 100 Huntley Street- 2009):
There is still time to organize a church-based community garden this growing season. What are you waiting for?
(Note: if you are in the Lynchburg/Bedford, Virginia area we would love to talk to you about starting a community garden at your church. We would also love to hear from you if you are near us and have already started on the path toward missional community gardening)
