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Lookout Valley Presbyterian Church is tending to a community vegetable garden in order to donate vegetables to community members.
“The economy was the main factor that got us thinking about planting a garden,” said the Rev. Grady Davidson. “We get an occasional request for groceries. We have many people in Lookout Valley that live on the margin financially.”
Davidson said he and 12 church members planted the garden this spring with squash, cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkins, radishes, carrots, peppers, corn, beans and tomatoes.
The Rev. Grady Davidson, of Lookout Valley Presbyterian Church, is maintaining a community vegetable garden.
“We will have more than one picking of tomatoes and beans since they keep coming in,” said Davidson. “We gave away all the radishes and some yellow squash.”
Davidson said people often think churches want something from them, but he is seeking to reverse that way of thinking.
“We knock on doors and say ‘we want to bless you, here are some fresh green beans’ and you see people’s faces light up,” he said. “The stomach is a fast track to the heart to reach people.”
Davidson said he calls the ministry vegetable evangelism.
“It opens the door to people that might not have someone to check in on them,” said Davidson. “We have a number of people in the church that are good gardeners.”
The church is sponsoring Burundi, West Africa native Margareta Nyandwi, who lived most of her life in refugee camps in Tanzania. Davidson said she puts her gardening experience to use by volunteering to help in the community garden.
“Margareta is someone who has experienced hunger,” said Davidson. “She is excited about the garden and helping others.”
According to Davidson, his team distributed half a dozen servings of green beans and 75 grilled hot dogs door to door in late June. The team plans to distribute food again in July.
“We are open to visit people that need vegetables such as beans, corn and tomatoes,” said Davidson. “We are open to input. It has been word of mouth, people suggesting their friends. Some people need groceries, but others such as elderly women really appreciate fresh vegetables from a garden because that’s how they grew up.”
To suggest a neighbor or friend for Davidson’s team to deliver vegetables to, call LVPC at 821-3419.
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