Preacher C and the Community gardens

Spring is in the air. Everyone is out walking. Flowers are blooming. Trees are budding. Birds are tweeting (the ones in the trees, I mean). The freshness of rain, the smell of soil. It stirs something deep in the soul. It's no accident that many of the parables of Jesus used earthy metaphors to explain spiritual truths. We connect on a deep level to the earth.

I was recently approached by some church members and townspeople about starting a community garden, with my church as the sponsoring organization. So, as the city girl I am, I immediately began to do research. I read many articles on the web, made a trip to the library, met with local experts, and began to talk to church members. There are several master gardeners in my church - who knew? Of course, I now must confess that I don't know what a master gardener is, but it sure sounds impressive! You see, I love to benefit from gardening, especially those home-grown tomatoes. But, I'm not particularly good at it. I have had a modicum of success with herbs because, frankly, I don't think you can kill herbs. Tomatoes, not so much. But my heart is in it!

I do COMPLETELY believe in the concept of the community garden. I believe we need to come together and create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and trust for the benefit of ourselves and those less fortunate. I believe in the old concept of God's acre, setting aside a portion of all we plant for the poor. I believe in teaching a new generation that is far removed from the land that once we understood our complete and utter dependence upon it and it's time we did again. Concepts like composting, rain water harvesting, crop rotation, and complemetary planting should touch our everyday lives on a regular basis, not just on a field trip at school.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the community garden is the sense of community. We are so isolated by our lifestyles today. We build ever larger homes for ever smaller families. We use iPods and kendles to close out the world, rather than smile and say, "Hello." Even with friends and family, we tune out with TV and PCs and cell phones. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have a "no-tech" zone! To just talk, share gardening tips, go through life together, laugh, cry, sweat, dig, plant, harvest, and rejoice.

So, Gentle Readers, if you share my passion for this project, please contact me at pastorcaren@waxhawumc.com, or call 704/843-3931. We're trying to build a team of committed, dedicated people to make this pilot project a success. Our dream is that this would be one of many to spring up all around Waxhaw. Is this your gift? Are you called to this ministry? Do you have talents in this direction? Do you have expertise to share? Do you need something to do with your time? Are you feeling a Holy Spirit nudge? Join us. I believe you will find it a blessing.

Matthew 5:5 say "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." That makes them also rich, those meek ones, for they shall inherit all they need.