May 17, 2023
An interesting phone call from Arlington, Virginia concerning what type of nutritional communication the pantry provides our "neighbors" or with our food. Hmmmmm... where do you begin in responding about a pantry that has been in operation since 2009? We have evolved from distributing a box of food from a closet to a stand-alone building. Along the way have we increased our awareness on the impact of healthy nutrition options for our "neighbors." Food items are not randomly placed on a shelf. Lots of research and support from agencies like MANNA have provided a framework for us. Neighbors choose from a variety of foods from specific categories (soup, vegetables, fruits, etc.). Each week we provide 11 meals or three and 1/2 days of food. We aim to provide 45-50% of a family's need in fruits, vegetables, and grains, 25% of its milk, and 90 % of its protein. As part of the SWAP program from MANNA, we have "green lights stickers" indicating a healthy choice. When available, we purchase low-sodium vegetables, fruit in light syrup, and lower fat in milk. We have a garden that provided over a ton of fresh vegetables last year. The garden has doubled in size and has the advantage of a Hoop House to prolong the growing season. We have items for "neighbors" with health challenges such as a gluten-free diet or are lactose intolerant. Chef Martha regularly prepares healthy recipes for "neighbors" to sample and shares the recipe. In conclusion, we believe we are trying to do our part to provide healthy choices for our "neighbors."
We hope you'll join us at the garden on May 17th at 5:00 (Rain Date) for a community gathering to dedicate the Hoop House and Bless the Garden as part of Rogation Day. The meal will be served at the Parish House.
On Saturday we welcomed 110 families representing 385 individuals and registered seven new families. City Bakery donated loaves of bread. Other donated items were Ingles-bread, Bimbos-snacks and bread, Wal-Mart and Big Lots-misc items, and MilkCo-milk. Produce this week included onions, salad, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.
On behalf of the executive committee, thank you to our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community helping to reduce food insecurity. We thank you for your food and monetary donations
News from The Lord’s Acre, Fletcher
What is a Rogation Blessing?
In the liturgical calendar rogation days come in the spring at the end of the Easter season. Since the 5th century, the church has gathered to ask God's blessing on fields and crops and those who work in them. [At the May 17 Hoop House Dedication and Garden Blessing] Father J. Clarkson will lead us in a procession from the Calvary parish hall to the garden that includes blessings on the garden and garden workers.
Thursday’s 4 p.m. Work Session
A potpourri of tasks this week. Your choice of mulching hoop house beds with leaves, hoeing weeds in the rows, thinning beets, and fertilizing beets and tomatoes. (Fish emulsion is smelly, so if you choose this task allow time for a shower before supper.) We should be through by 5 p.m.
Watermelons!
Early this week, "extra-mile" volunteers planted almost 100 watermelon plants. If they survive the wireworms (which decimated our pumpkins last year) we'll have a bumper crop of 5-pound "Mini Love" melons coming in early August.
From the Rogation Liturgy:
Holy One: Bless and protect this garden and all who keep it.
Strengthen and uphold them in their labor, that these plants may bear good fruit
and our care for the earth may witness to your love and justice; in the name of the
Holy and Undivided Trinity. Amen.
