Gardening Success Stories
Towson Presbyterian Church – InterGenerational Garden (IGG)
The Towson Presbyterian Church (TPC) InterGenerational Garden (IGG) started with a mission: to “work a piece of church property with our own hands as an act of praise and thanksgiving for God’s fruitful Creation, and also as an expression of humility before the responsibilities of stewardship.” The project’s goal was to provide hands-on experience for both adults and children to learn about the benefits and pleasures of eating healthy foods grown locally, about the marvelous interdependence of our eco-system and about the importance of sustainable practices in agriculture.
Planning for the garden included a workshop conducted by members of the Baltimore County Master Gardeners (MG) “Grow It Eat It” Program on February 13, 2010; a viewing of the movie “Food Inc.,” and a discussion of the overall concept of the InterGenerational Garden (IGG) to encourage potential volunteers; and an environmental fair in March 2010 that promoted the benefits of the IGG project. Under the guidance of the TPC IGG Steering Committee, the garden was constructed in a 20 foot by 30 foot enclosure with two 4x8 foot raised beds, two 4x8 foot in-ground beds and a perimeter bed for additional growing area. The planting was accomplished on Earth Day Sunday 2010 with 20 adults and youth participating and learning about aspects of growing healthy food locally in a manner using sustainable practices – natural fertilizer and not pesticides, depending on nature’s defense system in using plants that support beneficial insects. A “blessing” of the garden after worship service was conducted on June 20, 2010.
Another project goal was to provide opportunities for fellowship and community-building between the generations, between Towson Presbyterian Church and the surrounding neighborhoods, and between TPC gardeners and those in other organizations with similar interests and goals. Throughout the building and tending of the garden, IGG volunteers interacted with the community, including residents of High Peak, a facility for intellectually challenged adults. Some community members took back to their own gardens ideas from the IGG and some used the composter for their coffee grounds.
A third goal, to share the food grown with those who are hungry, was overwhelmingly successful: Twenty two varieties of veggies were planted with seventeen being part of the delivery to the Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC),. In total, 47 - 1 gallon bags of salad greens, approximately 412 pounds of several varieties of tomatoes plus assorted crops – broccoli, squash, cabbage, etc. – were delivered to ACTC to provide for those who are in need. Using a survey of those who were major contributors to the garden as well as feedback from ACTC, adjustments will be made in the variety planted and delivered to ACTC in 2011.
Funding for the garden came from a generous grant from the Food & Faith Project of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, and was used to purchase fencing, soil, and mulch. Baltimore County Master Gardeners taught workshops and gave planting advice; Babikow Green Houses contributed plants, ground cloth, peat moss, wood shavings; and the University of Maryland Central Research & Education Center also provided mulch. The TPC community also provided support in the form of cash, materials, and labor.
Members of the InterGenerational Garden Project like to share small stories that illustrate how the garden lived up to its name. Residents of High Peak were major players in many aspects of the garden, from weeding and watering to harvesting. Once, when a resident became very uncomfortable being inside of High Peak house, the personal aide took him outside to the garden where he proceeded to pick a bag of tomatoes, immediately calming to a more comfortable mode. An older resident of the nearby Presbyterian Home enjoyed visiting the garden in a wheel chair pushed by her daughter. She said that the pleasant conversation with a garden volunteer and the memories evoked made the garden one of their favorite “destinations.”
Children attending the Vacation Bible School, whose theme was about food and its many aspects in our health and care of God’s creation, participated in a visit to the garden, learning about plants and their contribution to our wellbeing. And church members Nora and Tuk Tuk (ages 9 & 7, respectively) enjoyed watering regularly each week along with the residents of High Peak. In addition to making new friends, the children enjoyed meeting the High Peak caregivers, especially the one from Liberia as they had come from Africa themselves. The children are looking forward to participating in this project again in the next gardening season.
Learn more about the TPC's Inter-generational Garden
3/10/2011
The Towson Presbyterian Church (TPC) InterGenerational Garden (IGG) started with a mission: to “work a piece of church property with our own hands as an act of praise and thanksgiving for God’s fruitful Creation, and also as an expression of humility before the responsibilities of stewardship.” The project’s goal was to provide hands-on experience for both adults and children to learn about the benefits and pleasures of eating healthy foods grown locally, about the marvelous interdependence of our eco-system and about the importance of sustainable practices in agriculture.Planning for the garden included a workshop conducted by members of the Baltimore County Master Gardeners (MG) “Grow It Eat It” Program on February 13, 2010; a viewing of the movie “Food Inc.,” and a discussion of the overall concept of the InterGenerational Garden (IGG) to encourage potential volunteers; and an environmental fair in March 2010 that promoted the benefits of the IGG project. Under the guidance of the TPC IGG Steering Committee, the garden was constructed in a 20 foot by 30 foot enclosure with two 4x8 foot raised beds, two 4x8 foot in-ground beds and a perimeter bed for additional growing area. The planting was accomplished on Earth Day Sunday 2010 with 20 adults and youth participating and learning about aspects of growing healthy food locally in a manner using sustainable practices – natural fertilizer and not pesticides, depending on nature’s defense system in using plants that support beneficial insects. A “blessing” of the garden after worship service was conducted on June 20, 2010.
Another project goal was to provide opportunities for fellowship and community-building between the generations, between Towson Presbyterian Church and the surrounding neighborhoods, and between TPC gardeners and those in other organizations with similar interests and goals. Throughout the building and tending of the garden, IGG volunteers interacted with the community, including residents of High Peak, a facility for intellectually challenged adults. Some community members took back to their own gardens ideas from the IGG and some used the composter for their coffee grounds.A third goal, to share the food grown with those who are hungry, was overwhelmingly successful: Twenty two varieties of veggies were planted with seventeen being part of the delivery to the Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC),. In total, 47 - 1 gallon bags of salad greens, approximately 412 pounds of several varieties of tomatoes plus assorted crops – broccoli, squash, cabbage, etc. – were delivered to ACTC to provide for those who are in need. Using a survey of those who were major contributors to the garden as well as feedback from ACTC, adjustments will be made in the variety planted and delivered to ACTC in 2011.
Funding for the garden came from a generous grant from the Food & Faith Project of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, and was used to purchase fencing, soil, and mulch. Baltimore County Master Gardeners taught workshops and gave planting advice; Babikow Green Houses contributed plants, ground cloth, peat moss, wood shavings; and the University of Maryland Central Research & Education Center also provided mulch. The TPC community also provided support in the form of cash, materials, and labor.
Members of the InterGenerational Garden Project like to share small stories that illustrate how the garden lived up to its name. Residents of High Peak were major players in many aspects of the garden, from weeding and watering to harvesting. Once, when a resident became very uncomfortable being inside of High Peak house, the personal aide took him outside to the garden where he proceeded to pick a bag of tomatoes, immediately calming to a more comfortable mode. An older resident of the nearby Presbyterian Home enjoyed visiting the garden in a wheel chair pushed by her daughter. She said that the pleasant conversation with a garden volunteer and the memories evoked made the garden one of their favorite “destinations.”
Children attending the Vacation Bible School, whose theme was about food and its many aspects in our health and care of God’s creation, participated in a visit to the garden, learning about plants and their contribution to our wellbeing. And church members Nora and Tuk Tuk (ages 9 & 7, respectively) enjoyed watering regularly each week along with the residents of High Peak. In addition to making new friends, the children enjoyed meeting the High Peak caregivers, especially the one from Liberia as they had come from Africa themselves. The children are looking forward to participating in this project again in the next gardening season.
Learn more about the TPC's Inter-generational Garden
3/10/2011
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Last updated: 03/15/2011