Michele Gore & Yvonne Thompson
The mission statement of the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour includes a commitment “to respond to human need by loving service” and “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”
The “Garden for the Hungry” is part of our effort to carry out these goals. Since its inception in 2016, we have produced over 30,000 pounds of vegetables, grown using natural methods and no dangerous chemical fertilizers or pesticides, that we donated to to various food banks in Richmond and Berea that serve the homeless and hungry.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food…” (Matthew 25:35)
Garden for the Hungry Report 2021
In 2021 the Garden for the Hungry delivered 3,606 pounds of fresh vegetables to local food banks. We grew 18 vegetables and several types of herbs. We harvested 1,007 pounds of tomatoes grown from 4 varieties. Asparagus, which is a perennial plant that we started about 3 years ago, was harvested for the first time this year. Thirteen members of the ECOS community worked a total of 528 volunteer hours. Six food pantries in Richmond and Berea were the recipients of our efforts. At the end of the season Janie Jordan reported "The food banks love us."
The crop totals are as follows: PRODUCE POUNDS Asparagus 18, Green beans 654, Corn 315, Cucumbers 352, Collards 175, Kale 211, Lettuce 46, Spinach 24, Herbs 2.2, Okra 45, Onions 23, Peas 69, Peppers 164, Yellow squash 281, Zucchini 85, Winter squash 32, Sweet potatoes 75, Tomatoes 1007, Potatoes 28.
Submitted by Yvonne Thompson
