Feeding Body & Soul
Serving at MACC extends beyond the walls of our building. Outside the doors, up the hill, sits a flourishing garden cared for by a team of dedicated individuals, passionate about experiencing God through creation and nourishing the health of others — body and soul. MACC’s Garden Ministry exists to support those in need through the harvest of fresh produce.
Elmer Dengler, who helped start the ministry, reflected on the original mission and how it remains the same.
“Early on, we wanted to be a ministry of helping those truly in need by providing high quality, fresh vegetables,” said Elmer.
Last year, the HOPE (Helping Other People Eat) Garden Ministry donated over 1,500 pounds of fresh produce. This year, the team is working to deliver the same results. Nearly all of the produce is donated to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank in Crownsville and distributed to those in need in our community or to local soup kitchens, said Tracy Backus who serves with her husband John in the ministry. Tracy, who recently retired from a career in commercial architecture, said that the garden is active all year. Produce is picked at its peak and donated by the team.
“The nutritional benefits of fresh produce is very limited to many and essential for all,” said Tracy. The team continues to look for opportunities within the church family to bless those that may benefit from access to fresh produce.
In the spring, crops consist of leafy greens, such as kale, lettuces, collards, Swiss chard, spinach, sugar snap peas, and radishes. As the season gets warmer, seeds and seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green beans, wax beans, beets, and squashes are planted. In autumn, onions, garlic, and sweet potatoes are harvested. Ornamental pollinator plants are cared for to ensure the presence of bees and butterflies for the garden’s flourishing. Weather and temperatures determine production and timing.
As a small team, they work closely to accommodate schedules and expertise. Not everyone is a gardener, said Tracy, but everyone has a role. From watering to weeding to harvesting, there are a variety of ways to serve. For example, there is no water supply at the garden, therefore much time is spent transporting water to keep the garden healthy.
John Backus, who is a retired environmental scientist, said that the ministry has blessed him and his wife in many ways. Not only are they getting to help those in need, but they have gained friendships and built strong relationships. It’s really like a life group, said John. The team meets weekly on Tuesday evenings.
John reflected on the blessing that is the meticulous and difficult work of gardening. Caring for the garden by fighting pests and battling drought, heat, and frost can seem less efficient and, frankly, more costly than donating produce purchased from the grocery store, but anyone who serves others knows the joy experienced from this work, said John. He is reminded of Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
“Every donation and hungry child fed with healthy vegetables is such a reward from God,” said John.
When Kathy and Myrlon Pressly joined the team three years ago, they were new to growing vegetables but were drawn to the ministry’s mission. Not only have they gained knowledge and experience in planting crops, composting, and maintaining a balanced soil, they have gained new friends and a deeper relationship with our Creator.
“We have found the garden, especially in the early morning hours, to be a nurturing, restorative, and meditative place to be,” said Kathy, a retired nurse.
She mentioned a plaque in the garden with this poem: “The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the bird for mirth, one is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on Earth.”
“As God cares for us, we care for the Earth that he created for us and, in turn, provide for his people,” said Kathy. “What we put in, we receive so much more.”
If you are interested in learning more about the HOPE Garden Ministry, know of someone who could benefit from access to fresh produce, or want to serve in this ministry, email gardening@themacc.org.
Written by Lydia MacBride