Hooray for Troop 205!

Hello Garden Gang!

Many thanks to Jack Webb and Boy Scout Troop 205 for hauling cinder blocks for us this weekend during their overnight campout in the garden. The troop neatened our new work area for us so we can prep for our Big Garden Build, hopefully for this Saturday, March 3rd. I've spoken with Katey Rudd, and it looks like our supplies should arrive this week. As soon as I get a green light (get it, green?) I'll holler. Actually, I'll email, but you get the idea.



As a reminder, I've got seeds and a seed planting guide from Marshall Grain for those of you who'd like to help grow seedlings. I've been in touch with Denise Cyr who will head up a seed-growing campaign with AUMC Preschool. Thanks, Denise.

Please keep praying for the garden. I read this passage last night as part of my Lent devotional, and I thought I'd share it with you:

Romans 6:5-8 "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."

That word "united" means to grow in union, or to plant in union. The word describes how two plants that have been planted together and are growing together, closely entwined or even united. (Nelson Study Bible.)

Have you ever seen two plants growing so closely together that they seem as one? What a beautiful image of our union with Christ, that we would be planted so closely to the source that we would actually grow entwined, closer and closer, to our Lord. This is my prayer for each of us, with this new mission field of the garden and in our personal journeys with Jesus.

Be blessed!
Britta

Garden Update: Plans and Prayers

Hello Gardeners!

We've had some more good news for the garden!

Here's what's happening:

• Katey Rudd finished our garden plans and Jack and Kern are headed to the HOA meeting tonight for final approval. We have a contact on the board who thinks the garden is a good idea, but we appreciate prayers that all will go smoothly tonight.
• As many of you know, we've had wonderful donations from church members and area businesses, and we've been blessed with grants for supplies from TAFB and TCPH. We're expecting a shipment of building materials and tools, hopefully to arrive later this week—possibly February 23.
• Gardeners are stepping up with ideas and donations—we've got contacts for free mulch, a possible greenhouse, and two free tillers so far. Thank you, gardeners!
• Will and Ellen Neff attended a class and have thoughtfully shared their notes with us to help us in the garden. We'll hand out copies of this at our next garden party.
• We received packets of seeds for our seed-starting efforts. If you're interested in free seeds, please contact me. I'll have them through build-out days and beyond! (Cue Buzz Lightyear.)
• Kern contacted Dig Tess and they'll be marking our lines this week, so we don't cut off electricity or phone lines while we're tilling. I'm sure our AUMC office staff will be pleased with our efforts.
• Ben and David have been in contact with Al Shave who is generously allowing us to use his front-end loader to move dirt.

Here's what’s next:
• Cash donations for the garden are coming in nicely (many thanks to all who have given!), but we're still a ways off from the slab and shed we need to house all these new supplies.
• WORK DAY! Once we get confirmation that our supplies are arriving, we'll send word about a work day (possibly for this weekend.) Kern and I will be doing prep-work this week, starting this afternoon. Jack and the Boy Scouts are camping on the land this weekend, and will be able to continue with the prep work. Once we schedule the workday, we'll need all hands on deck. So once you hear the call, please grab your teenagers, your neighbors, and your work gloves and be ready to go.

Here's what we need:
• Newspapers and cardboard for lining the bottom of new beds
• Vegetable and fruit scraps for compost
• Prayers for HOA meeting and new shed
• Donations for shed and other common areas
• Laborers for work days

Thank you all for your hands and your hearts as we work together to create this garden. Please continue to pray—God is moving and it's so much fun to be a part of the journey!

Cheers,
Britta Coleman