COMMUNITY GARDEN GROWS MORE THAN VEGETABLES
By Sharon Meaney, Staff Writer

Inch by Inch, Row by Row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground...
                            -Folk Song

A piece of fertile ground.... Indeed, a very critical component of any successful garden, and with the launch of  Calvary's Community Garden this May, Calvary can offer local residents just that -- a place and a space to get their hands dirty and grow their own produce.

The garden which grew from the ideas of Mark Cunningham, Calvary's Facilities Director and Steve Spitts, who manages the plots in the garden, officially opened in May of this year. Since that time, many different people have reserved and managed plots there, including Kiddie Kampus, Calvary's on-site preschool.

Bob Witters, Church Administrator, and his family were one of the first to begin a plot there: "My wife Sally and I decided to experiment with the gardens in April to see if it was feasible to have a place to grow fresh produce for the House of Hope. We planted donated plants this spring and have been caring for two plots ever since.  We keep some of the produce but much of it goes to the House of Hope."

Once that plot was started, the concept grew, you might say, organically.

"The older kids in Kiddie Kampus saw our plots and they wanted to have a garden "to grow pumpkins and corn", Bob explains.  "Now, they have a small plot which they planted with the help of their teacher."

After a recent article was published in the Los Gatos Times, many other people in the community began "renting" spaces. According to the Community Garden Convenant, gardeners are asked to donate 10-20% of their harvest to the House of Hope. Garden space is rented in 50 and 100-square foot plots at $1/sq foot per year to pay for watering, soil amending and ongoing care of the garden.

If you are interested in learning more about the Community Garden, contact Matt Turner, Pastor of Community Relations at mturner@calvarylg.com.