What is a Parish Garden?

A Parish Garden is a ministry that involves all generations of the parish in creating and maintaining small garden plots that are planted with vegetables that, once ready for harvest, are donated to the hungry. It is a simple, sustainable way for us to offer our time and talent so that others can enjoy the blessing, taste and nutrition of fresh, locally-grown produce.

I don’t garden, how can I help?

Easy enough! The plots we are going to be working with this summer are actually quite modest. These are raised beds, which allow us to put many plants in a tight space. The beds are narrow enough, and high enough, to allow most people full access without strain or difficulty. Weeding, if we keep it up, is easy to maintain…as is watering duty. All it takes is a pair of work gloves, a willing spirit and a commitment to take on a week of oversight with your family, household or perhaps even with a group of friends!

What about this idea of a parish composting ministry?

We are exploring the possibility of asking the parish membership to save their household compostable waste, bringing it with them on Sunday morning in order to deliver it into a parish composting bin. This “green waste” from your kitchen will quickly become a rich, environmentally friendly asset for the Parish Garden. All you will need to do is save your compostables in a reusable plastic gallon bag in your freezer during the week, and then bring them to church. There will be a bin in front of the church that we will collect the compostables in for delivery to our larger bins kept on the back edge of our property.

 What, exactly, are compostable materials?

Organic waste is compostable. That means

• • any peels or left-over bits of vegetables and fruit
  • eggshells, coffee grounds or tea leaves
  • fruit or salad greens that might have “gone off” in your refrigerator
  • breads or grains that are no longer palatable
  • tobacco products (minus filters, wrappers, etc.!) 
     

What isn’t compostable?

• • Meat, bones, fat, or any meat waste, by-products or grease
  • Plastics, containers not listed as compostable
  • Paper goods-they take to long to break down
  • Animal waste
  • Seeds (they sprout!) or nuts/nutshells (too long to break down)

 
Our Parish Garden needs human hands to love it into being. No garden can exist without a community willing to give it love and care. When that commitment is freely offered, and fair weather allows good growth-we can anticipate a bountiful harvest. Garden service is a great opportunity to sign on and get to know someone you might not otherwise have gotten a chance to meet; for families to enjoy a summer project that every generation can participate in; that all of us will benefit from in the long run as well as in the short term. The world truly will be a better place when we are willing to not throw away what might bring a richer life…and to use those gifts to bring food to those who are hungry. Jesus reminds us in the parable of the sower that the Word of God is like seed scattered on the ground; with this ministry, let us be the good ground that yields a hundred-fold! 

Speak to Paul Zahray, Dom Perrotta, Lisa Perry or Father Marshall today and sign up for a week of watering and/or weeding…and start saving your compostables today!