Summertime around the synod: Gardens a growing concern

On the coast, first came a food bank, then the garden

By Ann Gergens, Pacific County Press

SOUTH BEND — Last October, the empty field on Water Street was dusty or muddy, depending on the weather.

July 7 was different when the Growing Together Community Gardens (GTCG), begun by the Rev. Laurie Johnson of First Lutheran Church of South Bend and many others, held an open house to show off what a little water, some seeds, and working together can accomplish. The barren lot now is a flourishing green expanse of container gardens with tomatoes, cauliflower, Swiss chard, lettuce, broccoli, tiny bean sprouts and berries growing in lush profusion.

GTCG contributes produce to the Legacy Community Outreach Food Bank next to the garden. The food bank grew out of the church in years past, and now comes the garden to complement it.

But both are truly a community effort. South Bend Mayor Kirk Church listed the 67 organizations, businesses, individuals and volunteers who have so far contributed to its growing success, after which he cut the ribbon that made it official. Pictured above, the Growing Together Community Gardens

 

In the city, potato towers pack plenty into small space

By Allison Ramsey, Resurrection Lutheran church member
and synod office manager

TACOMA — Four years ago, Cindy Niemi, a member of Resurrection Lutheran
Church, got the idea to start a community garden in the back of the church in
the middle of what used to be blackberries, brush and horrible soil conditions.
After working with the men’s ministry and outreach committees, as well as with
local donors, the garden has grown in lots of ways.

This Community Garden has taken on the spirit of true victory gardens —
bringing people together to grow their own food, and also providing recreation,
education and beautification.

The garden provides produce for the New Jerusalem Food Bank in Tacoma. Last
year, the potato towers, under the leadership of Master Gardener Jennifer
Schroeder, produced 200 pounds of potatoes in four towers for the food bank.
Potato towers are square, high-sided wooden boxes that contain multiple potato
plants and are built higher by adding soil as the potatoes grow, making room
for more. Resurrection’s Facilities Committee has built a beautiful fence this
year around the garden, and enlarged the space by several plots. The garden
has been blessed with donations, too. Garden workers received compost from
a landscaping business. They also are active in Tacoma’s Community Garden
Program, from which they’ve received supplies.

This year, they’ve organized events around the gardening including classes,
a scarecrow contest, and “Happy Hour in the Garden” (non-alcoholic and
alcoholic drinks using fresh herbs and the fresh produce.)  

Pictured above left to right with a potato tower is Ramsey,
Tracy Johnson and Schroeder