FUMC Rockwall gives back with Community Garden

Church sets goal to donate 4,000 pounds of produce to Helping Hands food pantry

(Rockwall) July 18, 2013 – The First United Methodist Church of Rockwall  Community Garden, located at 1200 E. Yellow Jacket Lane, was started to allow members of the congregation a means to give back to the community and their fellow congregation members.

By using their existing gardening skills and/or by learning new gardening methods, the members of the congregation are devoting their time to growing vegetables for use by food banks (such as Helping Hands) and for members of the congregation.

After the produce has been set aside for the food banks, it is distributed to the congregation on Sunday after each service.  After the Sunday distribution, any remaining produce is added to the food bank produce. By the commissioning agreement, at least one half of all produce must be donated to a food bank.

FUMC’s Community Garden consists of ½ acre of land located north of the Elizabeth Cameron Education Buillding.  Of this land, approximately 2,000 sq. ft. is devoted to a staging area and 20,000 sq. ft. is used to grow fruits and vegetables.  The garden is watered by a newly installed drip irrigation system.  In keeping with the social principles of the Methodist church, organic means will be incorporated into the gardening whenever practical.

In the garden, there are three types of tomatoes, okra, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, banana peppers, various herbs, asparagus, pumpkins, acorn squash, yellow squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, scallop squash, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, banana melon and watermelons.  In the fall, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips and beets are grown.

Last garden season, FUMC donated over 1,000 pounds of produce to Helping Hands. This year the goal is 4,000 pounds.

To learn more about the FUMC Community Garden or to donate any equipment or volunteer, please contact the FUMC Office (972)771-5500 or email Jerry Rubush, Garden Chairman:  jerry.rubush@att.net. Please feel free to come visit the garden at 1200 E. Yellowjacket Lane, Rockwall, TX.

Submitted by Ruth Sears.

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  Community Garden, First United Methodist Church, Helping Hands, Rockwall