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Winnipeg’s hot summer is in full swing, bringing beautiful and bountiful vegetables from the Just Growing gardens to the tables of people in need.

St. Margaret’s Anglican Church has partnered with A Rocha in urban agriculture. Over 325 sq. m. of garden plots (5 locations) grow a variety of produce and flowers; all of the produce reaped from these little pieces of God’s earth goes directly to neighbourhood residents in need, many of whom live with mental disabilities, are on welfare or disability, and some of whom are marginalized. Produce goes both to individuals who participate in tending and harvesting the gardens, as well as to local organizations such as transitional housing, food banks, and soup kitchens.

Thus far, Just Growing has harvested 16 kilograms of produce, including lettuce, spinach, peas, cauliflower, onions, beets, carrots, zucchini, vegetable marrow, sweet peppers, and a variety of herbs. 76 people have directly participated in activities and, in total, 450 people have benefitted, either through direct involvement or through produce deliveries to local organizations.

The four interns involved in the program continue to learn about the mechanics of gardening, as well as exploring the biblical and theological background for creation care.

Coming up:

Weekly events (through the end of August):

Tuesdays (10am) Garden Day, Portage Avenue Church

Thursdays (10am) Garden Day, St. Margaret’s Anglican Church

Fridays (10am) Cooking Day (harvest, prepare, and eat together), St. Margaret’s Anglican Church

Special events: Arthropod (BUG) Day, August 24th, 4-5pm, St. Margaret’s Anglican Church

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JUST GROWING is a project linking people in the parish with food, community and creation.  This project will build on the strengths of previous years of St. Margaret’s community outreach and will develop direction for future ministry in the neighborhood.  A Rocha is a Christian conservation organization working to show God’s love for all creation.  Jen Kornelsen is on staff with A Rocha Canada as a Community Organizer for parish-based projects in Winnipeg.  The goal of Just Growing is to equip people with gardening experience, great food, stronger connections in the community, and an appreciation for environmental conservation.  The outcome is St. Margaret’s Church practicing faith in action: engaged in loving the neighborhood with veggies!

Young adults will be employed for four months to carry out this outreach which they will do collaboratively with low-income residents near the parish.  During the summer the staff will also lead two weeks of summer day camps for kids.  Other activities of Just Growing include a Lenten study group Food and Faith, involvement in the church’s centennial celebrations in June 2010 and a fall harvest festival for the neighborhood.  Jen Kornelsen will provide leadership for the project together with church staff.  The project will result in an extensive written guide for Just Growing so that it can be a repeated at St. Margaret’s and replicated by A Rocha in other parishes.

 

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