May 29, 2024
Saturday, May 25th was another busy morning in the pantry as we served 123 Households comprising of 419 individuals. We continue to show increases over last year. Through 21 weeks, Households served have increased 8% and individual counts within those Households have increased 12% compared to 2023.
The pantry had an abundance of vegetables to offer last week.
From the Lord’s Acre, Fletcher a total of 121 pounds of fresh vegetables consisting of romaine lettuce, spinach and collards were harvested.
Tractor.Farm very generously donated 3,878 pounds of a variety of vegetables and other items, which included 3,500 pound of potatoes, head lettuce, Spring Mix salad, collards, radishes, beets, spring onions, Swiss chard, strawberries, mint, parsley, and oyster mushrooms. Amazingly, all of these items, including the 3,500 pounds of potatoes were gone by the time the pantry closed. Again, this illustrates the importance our pantry neighbors place on fresh vegetables.
The band, Steady State will be playing at the Blue Ghost Brewery on Saturday June 1st from 6:30 – 8:30PM. A portion of the band’s proceeds as well as proceeds from the “tips jar” will be donated to the pantry.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, we continue to thank our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community by helping to reduce food insecurity. We thank you and appreciate your food and monetary donations.
From the Executive Committee,
- Kim Potthoff
The Lord’s Acre, Fletcher, May 28, 2024 – Our Thursday session was rained out last week. Though yellow squash and cukes are now planted. Join us Thursday at 7pm for some much-needed weeding of beds to prepare for planting green beans the following week. Can’t make it Thursday evening? Join us Friday morning at 8:30 for a brief session to pick the remaining lettuce for Saturday distribution in the pantry. This is the last Friday session for the summer. Our summer crops store better and can be harvested on Thursdays.
If you can’t make the Thursday work sessions, you can always come by at a time of your own choosing to weed. With all the late spring rains, the weeds are quite healthy. And we’re not as tolerant of them as we might be. Let Doug know if you have some time (828 8089639) and he’ll point you in the right direction.
Pollinator Garden Done! Michael Schruckmayr, along with family and friends, completed planting the native pollinator garden adjacent to the storage shed. Check it out. It looks great! Ask him about it when you see him working in the garden. The pollinator garden is Michael’s Eagle project.
Wrapping Up Spring Pictured is our last big harvest of spring crops: collards, spinach chard, and romaine lettuce. Taking their place will be tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, cucumbers, and watermelons.
This is the lushest time of year, whether it’s the garden, the yard, or the woods. As author Anne Lamott says, “God is such a show-off!”
Sharing God’s Lavish Bounty I include the following prayer, even though it doesn’t mention gardens, but because it does mention our stewardship of the earth and the need to share God’s lavish bounty. And that’s exactly what we’re about in the Lord’s Acre, Fletcher.
“God almighty, creator of all life, the One who fixes all the broken places of our universe, the work of your hands reflects your great love and concern for all creation. May we be wise stewards and ensure that nothing you have made is spoiled or misused. May we share generously and justly from your rich and abundant resources. Jesus Christ, who gave yourself for our world, unite us through your covenant of peace, so that all peoples of the earth may share your lavish bounty together.” -- Christine Sine, in To Garden with God
- Doug Kearney
