By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
There is something magical about digging in the dirt, planting a seed, watching it grow, then savoring the result of all the work. The magic goes a step further when the harvest is given away to those in need.
For that reason, First Presbyterian Church is starting its own “giving garden.” It will be the third community garden at Bowling Green churches, with the other two already in place at Peace Lutheran and First United Methodist.
Though some community garden models operate with families given plats to grow their own vegetables, the First Presbyterian site will be a giving garden, according to Lyn Long, a church member who planted the seed for the new effort.
The community and church members will be invited to plan, plant, water, weed, harvest, and feast on the produce.
“I just thought, there’s a huge lot over there and we only use it once or twice a year,” Long said. “It just didn’t seem like good stewardship.”
Proposed garden area sits behind church on South Grove Street.
Long is being assisted by Megan Sutherland, executive director of the Common Good organization which has worked with the other two church community gardens for years.
“I think gardening teaches you a lot of lessons, some are short term and some are long term,” Sutherland said. “There’s something special about working with people in the sunshine, in the dirt. Even picking weeds. It becomes really meditative.”
Gardening teaches all ages about community building, healthy eating and delayed gratification, Sutherland said.
Long is also hoping to find some expertise and hands-on help from area master gardeners and FFA students.
A meeting will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. for anyone interested in the Presby Community Garden, at First Presbyterian Church, 126 S. Church St. The meeting will be held upstairs in the church’s Green Lounge.
Sutherland reminded that a giving garden is a time consuming project.
“People like the idea of a garden, but they don’t realize it’s like a child,” she said.
“It’s after it comes up – and the weeds do, too,” Long said.
Long said she is far from an expert gardener. “I grew up in tiny little village, with a big garden,” she said.
But she knows that a community working together in a garden can result in far more than harvest at the end of the season.
“One person can make a really big difference,” Sutherland agreed.
The other church gardens produce such bounty as tomatoes, corn, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, green beans, peas, lettuce, kale, radishes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, herbs and flowers.
People in the community can come work as they please, and take what they need, she said.
“Usually if people receive, they want to give back,” Sutherland said.
Anyone wanting to know more about the Presbyterian community garden may contact Long at 419-352-8019 or pmclong33@gmail.com.
