Parishes tell how their gardens grow for others

Squash, eggplant, cauliflower, tomatoes, pumpkins and cabbage are grown for food pantries in the area and for the gardeners themselves, but these aren't the only seeds that have been planted in the "Giving Gardens," according to Melanie Collins, coordinator.

"I knew there was a need to have fresh vegetables in the community and that there is a purpose to work together, provide for each other and provide a certain amount of fellowship," she said.

Blooming trend

St. Paul's Church in Hancock had its garden built about five years ago when the late Rev. James Cribbs was pastor. Parishioners have continued to care for such perennials as lilies, irises, daisies and daffodils, and such annuals as geraniums, petunias and begonias, according to Tina Linke, one of several people who helps out.

There are also shrubs, butterfly bushes and a kidney-shaped rose garden with rose bushes, including 12 that represent the Apostles, Mrs. Linke pointed out.

Close to God

Mrs. Linke and her husband Bill visit the parish garden every other day, and they also grow vegetables at their home. She finds gardening to be a spiritual endeavor and grows closer to God as she watches gardens grow.

"Nature is the closest thing to being close to God," she said. "It's wonderful because He created all this, and we're just His hands helping Him. It's very peaceful and relaxing."

Helping the needy

Mrs. Fortin volunteers for CONSERNS-U (the Community Network of Schodack, East Greenbush, Rensselaer, Nassau and Sand Lake-United), which distributes donated fresh vegetables each summer to needy folks. She suggested that her daughter donate the extra zucchini to CONSERNS-U, an outreach of Catholic Charities of Albany and Rensselaer Counties.

"The garden took off this year, so I'd imagine I'll have more stuff to give," Mrs. Blaney said. "I think it's wonderful. I'm glad to see they can use it because it would be a shame for it to go to waste."

"I'm sure there's a lot of other people that have extra in their garden that probably don't even think about it," Mrs. Fortin added. "It would be nice to have [at CONSERNS-U] because it seems to get used."

Stocking the shelves

The purpose of the project is threefold: to encourage gardeners to grow an extra row at home and contribute their vegetables, to give food pantry recipients an opportunity to grow their own food at the Harvest for the Hungry Garden, and to distribute seedlings donated by nurseries to food pantries for use in home gardens.

"Food pantries don't just take canned food. Vegetables are a great donation during the growing season," she said.

Tons of food

"We try to plant things that will reproduce throughout the growing season and utilize the small space we have," Mrs. Primeau said.

Gardeners from the Capital Region take turns helping out at the Harvest for the Hungry Garden, which makes it easier for them to fit their visits into their schedules.

"It's nice because the volunteers can choose what time is good for them," she said. "It's not something where people have to be out there."

On their knees

Ideally, those who help with the garden are the ones who harvest and reap the vegetables for themselves, but only as much as they need, Mrs. Collins said. She also works with food pantries in Ravena that receive produce from the garden.

"Any member of the team can go and pick at any time they want to," she said. "Any surplus we find that's ready, we pick and donate to the food pantry."

Creating beauty

"In the past, we've gone out and picked flowers along the side of the road," including daisies and black-eyed susans, she said. "Now we try to buy real flowers and put them out ourselves, or try to pick them if we can find them."

Jim Crandall, a member of St. Philip's Church in Hartford, the mission of Fort Ann, also has been looking for parishioners to donate flowers.

"I'm making sure there's flowers there every Sunday I can," said Mr. Crandall, a retired florist who worked in the business for more than 50 years and now grows such flowers as snapdragons and marigolds. "I try to make up fairly artistic arrangements for the church."

Shrines sprout up

Parishioners are being asked to donate money that will be used to purchase flowers, shrubs, trees, statues and benches. Other projects include the erection of a sign in front of the church and the installation of a sprinkler system to maintain the gardens and lawns.

The gardens are in the process of being planted, but parishioners have been able to see designs in the parish office and computer-enhanced images in the bulletin of how the gardens will look.

(Editor's note: To contact CONSERNS-U, call 463-8571.)

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