Spring has arrived at St. Paul, and with it our favorite kind of dirty work. On a bright Saturday morning, members of all ages gathered with shovels, seed packets, and trays of seedlings to plant this year’s garden. Rows were measured and prepared, and before long the beds were full of tomatoes, peppers, beans, and greens. It’s a tradition we look forward to every year — a chance to work side by side while putting something good into the ground that will help to supply the food pantry all summer long.

The produce from the garden goes directly to the food pantry for distribution

Each year, volunteers from our congregation gather to plant, tend, and harvest a garden grown for one purpose: feeding our neighbors. Throughout the growing season, members of all ages water the rows, pull weeds, and pick vegetables at their peak. Every tomato, pepper, squash, and head of lettuce is donated to the local food pantry, where it reaches families who need fresh, healthy food the most. It’s a simple way to put faith into action and care for our community one harvest at a time.

• Join a planting or harvest day — no gardening experience needed
• Volunteer to water and weed during the week through our sign-up schedule
• Donate seeds, seedlings, or garden tools to help us grow more
• Help deliver fresh produce to the food pantry each week
• Spread the word and invite friends and neighbors to lend a hand

What makes the garden special isn’t just the harvest — it’s the people who show up to make it happen. You’ll find longtime members kneeling beside first-time volunteers, parents teaching their kids how to space a row of seedlings, and friends catching up over a wheelbarrow. No experience is necessary, and there’s a job for every pair of hands.

Every year volunteers give their time and talent

For many families, the garden has become a way to serve together. Children who started out splashing in the watering cans a few years ago are now the ones reminding the grown-ups when it’s time to weed. Watching one generation pass down the simple habit of caring for others — through something as ordinary as a vegetable patch — is one of the quiet joys of this ministry.