Messiah Lutheran Church is Growing More than Faith
Looking around the grounds of Messiah Lutheran Church you see many types of trees that were lovingly planted over the years, some in memory of loved ones. You see the playground used by the Kradle2 Kindergarten Nursery school. But unless, you drive into the parking lot and to the entrance of the church you may miss the new vegetable garden. Set neatly against the brick, contemporary, Hassinger design church is a beautiful vegetable garden that was build and planted just this spring. The vegetable garden is tended to by the members of Messiah and the produce is then brought to the Center for Food Action in Mahwah 2-3 times a week.
The vision of the Garden started with Pastor Julie Haspel who has been at Messiah for just over a year now. She had seen the benefit of a vegetable garden at her last church in Massachusetts . “A little thing like seeing peoples faces light up when we brought the fresh vegetables into the local soup kitchen made it all worth while. Giving staples is very important but when you give someone fresh vegetables it is something special”.
When Messiah Lutheran Church was approached by Wesley Roth, a scout from Troop 49 of Oakland, looking for an Eagle Scout project they suggested the vegetable garden. Wesley designed the garden and organized the construction from start to finish for his project. The raised beds are made from recycled lumber and many of the other supplies were donated. In mid May, once the last of the soil was added, Messiah Lutheran Church took over with the planting and caring of the garden.
As of July 15, they have picked a total of 27 pounds of vegetable and they only began harvesting a week and a half ago. Messiah is keeping it simple this year, growing bush beans, pole beans, zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers. Next year they hope to plant an early spring crop in addition to the summer crop.
The Garden’s bounty and beauty continue to astound those who see it. Watching it grow from nothing into a store of nutrition and health for those who have fallen on hard times is like seeing a miracle every day.
By Nancy Krause
Member and Resident of Oakland