Sadly, this will be the last blog submitted to Grow Appalachia by the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, as we will no longer be affiliated with GA in 2016. For the past two years GA has helped our garden with funding, technical assistance, encouragement, and moral support and we are grateful for the assistance that enabled us to feed many hungry people in Madison County, Kentucky. We have produced thousands of pounds of healthy organic produce and have taught children, youths, and adults how to raise organic crops. Our core group of volunteers has worked hard to expand knowledge of crop preparation and production and we have come a long way since beginning in 2014. GA has helped provide the foundation for our work which will continue in 2016 and beyond.
Although our project is transitioning, the work of the garden continues into the winter with our low tunnel crop production. Lettuce, kale,and mesclun were harvested earlier this month and cabbage, turnips, and carrots will soon follow. Then we’ll clean up and “put the garden to bed” until March.
There are lots of people to thank. First of all, thanks to John Paul Dejorin for his generosity and vision and the funding to make GA possible. Thanks also to Berea College and the GA folks there who have helped us every step of the way and were patient with our numerous questions and inquiries. Thanks to our garden assistants, Sarah Nicely and Martin Davis. Their energy and diligence made the gardens in 2014 and 2015 doable and we are grateful for their positive attitudes and hard work. Next, our thanks to our master gardeners and teachers, Dan Evans and Rev. Phillip Haug. Without their planning, instruction, and endless work (and personal funds), none of this would have happened. They taught the rest of our volunteers that we could actually grow things and do it well! Thanks to committed volunteers Hank Pinkerton, Ollie and Janie Jordan, Jon Parker, and Jane Rainey who worked weekly through heat, bugs, rain, drought, cold, rabbits, etc. to ensure that hungry people in our region regularly received healthy food. Thanks to Community Action’s Migrant Head Start program and the Salvation Army for working with us this year to teach children and teens how to garden. Most of all, thanks be to God for making all things possible.
We wish GA well and for continued success in its important work.
Submitted by Michele Gore.
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