Garden
YOUR Help is Needed!
We hope you will roll up those sleeves and get ready to tend the community garden plants with us! Each year, the Community Garden yield provides fruits and veggies for the needy in our community. Tending the garden is also a great way to spend time with others—bring your family and teach little ones about nature and about serving others, or come with a friend. We are asking volunteers to sign up for one week this summer so we can all share the responsibilities.
Mission
The mission of the Community Garden Ministry is to provide fresh food to those hungry in our community. It will also build relationships; and, as we work with other generations, races, socioeconomic levels, and possibly even religions, we will be growing healthy community relations and friendships.
Who Tends the Garden?
The Community Garden is maintained by volunteers from the church who may come individually or in groups. All who enjoy being outdoors, working in the dirt, and watching things grow are welcome. Even with little or no gardening experience, a volunteer can be placed alongside an experienced gardener who will educate them in the process.
What Does the Garden Produce?
Since March of 2017, the Community Garden has been producing vegetables suitable for the season and easily cooked by individuals in need of fresh vegetables including carrots, lettuce, kale, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, eggplant, beans, and more.
How is the Community Garden Maintained?
The Community Garden relies on church volunteers to weed, harvest, and deliver fresh vegetables to local food pantries and partnerships. We also depend on monetary gifts made to the “Community Garden Fund” to provide the seeds, dirt, and tools necessary to help the garden grow.
A Message from the Community Garden Chairperson
When most people think of mission work, they think of digging wells in Africa, building hospitals in Haiti, or helping to rebuild after a hurricane in Florida. While it doesn’t get the same attention, First Baptist is also involved in mission work right here in Griffin. The next time you park across the street from the Family Life Building, look inside the picket fence. Inside you’ll see one of our church missions growing right in front of you.
Since March of 2017, the First Baptist Community Garden has been growing fresh vegetables and flowers for our community. I have had the privilege of leading this mission since early 2019, but I haven’t done it alone. Dozens of volunteers have helped us grow tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, okra, eggplant, beans, peas and watermelons in the spring and summer. In the fall, we grow cabbage, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. These vegetables are delivered to Five Loaves Food Pantry and Abundant Life Soup Kitchen where they provide healthy meals to members of our community in need.
The Community Garden is funded through the Church Mission Offering. Your support is vital to sustaining this local mission as it allows us to buy the plants, seeds, fertilizer, and other supplies needed to keep the garden growing.
You can also support the Community Garden by volunteering your time. You don’t have to have a green thumb to help- we’ll be glad to teach you. It is a great way to get kids involved in mission work and to teach them the importance of serving others. You can sign up to volunteer on this page.
“Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9
— Patrick Shepherd, Leader on Community Garden Team