Recently, I enjoyed spending an hour walking through our vegetable gardens with a few of our resident gardeners. Mary Klaus, a reporter from the Patriot News, was here to write a story on community gardening. It was fun to interact with a few of the 25+ vegetable gardeners we have on campus. I enjoyed seeing each person share what they had grown with the reporter as she snapped pictures of each person on a very hot and humid afternoon. There were zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, parsnips, cucumbers, and much more! A few of the gardeners even had grown flowers to help beautify the area for all to enjoy.
Jerry and Carolyn Rutherford who head up the Garden Committee, invited the group into their home after the tour for some cold water and to continue the conversation. The gardeners told the reporter about the composting that is done and picked up by the grounds crew and how the water that is used to water the gardens is collected from Spring Run into a cistern. We talked about canning, freezing, and storing vegetables to last all winter and even into the next spring. It was obvious from the conversation that each person has enjoyed gardening for most of their life. After moving to Messiah Village they were able to continue that tradition with a little help from the grounds crew who till the ground each fall and spring. The planting, weeding, and watering are the responsibility of each gardener who is given a plot of the garden each spring from the Garden Committee.
It was really nice to hear about the generosity of our gardeners who share the produce they have grown with other residents. One gardener has a table outside of his apartment that is a “free” table for anyone who passes by. It doesn’t take long for his vegetables to be snatched up by other residents who live in his hallway.
I have grown in my appreciation for the work and joy of gardening from my husband who has grown a vegetable garden the last three summers. He loves it and enjoys spending many hours caring for it. I can see how it would be hard to give up gardening once it is in your blood. I’m so thankful that at Messiah Village residents do not need to give up gardening of vegetables or flowers after they move-in and make Messiah Village their home!
Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~Lindley Karstens
