ABBrownsville Church’s thriving community garden receives a grant to help build a greenhouse.
The First Christian Church on Second Street began gardening about two years ago in partnership with the Brownsville nonprofit Team Humanity.
“I thought (the church) was a great place,” said William James, founder of Team Humanity.
“The last two years have come a long way,” said church board president Ed DeMuth, where local youth have planted and grown tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, honeydew, cantaloupe, kale and a variety of other vegetables and herbs. said.
James, a former NFL player and Brownsville native, said about 30 children helped with the project, learning about gardening and farming along the way.
“One of the great experiences I had was seeing children and community members come and pick peppers and watermelons off the ground. It was exciting to see that,” James said. Told. “These kids think all produce comes from the store, but now they can see it growing out of the ground.”
The community garden was a success, so James wanted to extend the idea of sustaining the experience year-round by building a greenhouse.
“This is going to be an outdoor learning center,” said James, adding that it will provide education through hands-on learning about many aspects of health, good food choices and gardening. “It’s very engaging for children.”
To help fund the greenhouse, the Church recently received a $3,500 grant from the Church’s National Philanthropic Society.
The church’s pastor, Don Snyder, said, “Will is doing a good job in the garden and we’ve been able to see the plants grow in the summer.” saw it as an already good partnership, a way to move it forward, and an opportunity for young people to get involved in positive action.”
Lisa Buday, a Washington County attorney and member of the National Charitable Society, suggested that Snyder write and submit a grant application to the Society to purchase tables, chairs, and materials for the greenhouse.
She was thrilled when she learned that her local church was one of the recipients of the grant.
“I was always around the garden,” she said. That’s it.”
James said he hopes to start building the greenhouse in the spring.