Signs of Easter in the Garden

Planting Seeds of Faith & Hope

On Sunday, we blessed our new Food Pantry Garden at Good Shepherd- Verona Campus.  The idea for this kind of garden has been floating around for a while, but it was about a year ago that we began putting together plans for what this would look like.  I have learned a lot about gardening this past year. Along with a small dedicated team of people, we have been gathering tips about crop rotation and what kind of seeds to buy, learning about food safety for a garden and we visited other gardens around the area to learn best practices.  Pausing and reflecting on our garden, I feel the presence of God at work in this place and I see signs of Easter in the garden.  Because what we believe about God and how we live and respond are intertwined in that soil.  We know having a garden of any kind requires faith.  You have to have hope that the seeds you plant will grow.  And you have to believe in the value of each sprout as you tend it and get rid of the weeds.  You need to have patience with the process and trust in the water and the sunlight to do what they are meant to do.

Reminders of our Creator

Gardens remind us that God really did create this amazing world and we have been given the responsibility to care for it.  Gardens remind us that we are all connected- from seed to compost to harvest.  And this garden isn’t a community garden where people are tending plots for themselves. Instead, all of the produce will go to the food pantry serving our neighbors.  This shows our belief that God cares for us and wants us to care for one another.  Our garden team wanted to make sure we were growing what people want to eat, so we consulted with the coordinators at the Good Shepherd Food Pantry at Madison campus for ideas.  This year we will grow sweet corn, mini watermelons, peas and beans.  These aren’t anyone’s leftovers, these are the first fruits of what we grow.  The very best we have to offer we will give away to our neighbors because we are one flock and we have one Shepherd.  We are all in this together. 

In the blessing of the garden, we were reminded that humanity was first planted in a garden _{(Genesis 2:8-9)}, our resurrection began in a garden _{(John 20:15-16)} and our food comes from gardens.  Gardens are sacred and we have the honor of tending them.  Join us in the garden this summer!

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