I know everyone is anxious to know the direction that the community garden is taking this season.  Having met with a few team leaders yesterday, I am happy to share the following information:

                 The garden will be made into a Reaching Richfield MISSION GARDEN with the proceeds directed to VEAP’s Garden to Table, MIRA, Loaves and Fishes, Simpson Shelter, and other neighbors in need.

                 The garden will be managed by a governing board – to which I hope you each will consider becoming a member of.  These are tasks you would probably already be doing with the garden,  but gives better structure and provides for sustainability.  At first the meetings & work will be pretty intensive, but everyone working together will make the load light.  The next meeting of the Garden Board is Sunday, April 15^th (following worship service).

                 Steve Pierson, Gordy Holmes, and Mike Murphy have already started a variety of plants.  We will also need some ethnic varieties such as poblano peppers, tomatillos, and other peppers. 

                 We are awaiting approval from the property team in regards to the south plot and terracing the area.  Jesse Gardner will be following up.  We have been awarded an additional $500 from the SHIP and intend to use every bit and more for upgrades, etc. 

                 We will also be applying for a 5 or 10k grant with the do.town campaign and hope to be able to integrate educational components involving youth (HoP Preschool, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts) and a canning/freezing/drying workshop for neighbors in the Buena Vista & Towers complexes, as well as set up canned tomatoes & peppers for the church’s feeding programs.  Jill Johnson and Jesse Gardener will be gathering information to prepare the grant application.  Deadline is May 1^st.

                 MIKE MURPHY & STEVE PIERSON:  There were some TERRACED GARDEN DRAWINGS submitted but I haven’t found them in my files and wonder if you’d be able to “resurrect” them (like the timely pun?) and send them to us with the elevations included.  Please & thanks!

                 On April 29^th we will be celebrating EARTH DAY with the congregation following worship services.  Jeanne Lindstrom and Karen Steenson are helping organize this day to honor and care for our world.   This may be a day to involve congregation in planting our MISSION GARDEN.    Information has been posted around the narthex area. 

I may have left something or someone out, so my apologies.  Feel free to forward this to anyone you think should be involved.  Thank you for your support and energy as we join together doing God’s work with our hands!