June 19, 2024
Calvary Food Pantry – June 19, 2024 – June 15th was yet another busy morning in the pantry as we served 137 Households comprising 476 individuals. We welcomed 14 new Households having 40 members.
Households receiving food so far this year totaled 3,057 comprised of 10,791 individuals. We continue to show increases over last year. Through 24 weeks this year Households served have increased 6% and individual counts within those Households have increased 9% compared to 2023.
We continue to recognize and thank all the many volunteers (past and present), partner churches, community members, civic organizations, schools, retirement communities, donors, foundations, and all who have contributed in some way to this ministry of service to those experiencing food insecurity.
The pantry garden continues to be a valued contribution supplement to our fresh vegetable offerings. Current and pending plantings include cucumbers, yellow squash, tomatoes, peppers and watermelons. The pollinator garden (a result of a Boy Scout Eagle Badge project) is fully planted and will be visited by our bees. We are looking forward to another limited supply of delicious Lord’s Acre honey this fall. The garden has become a magnet for school group volunteers whose help is greatly appreciated.
From the Executive Committee, Fred Yopps
The Lord’s Acre, Fletcher – June 18, 2024 -- Thanks for your work last week planting additional squash and cucumbers and filling in green beans. They are all doing nicely in spite of the heat. (Thank you, drip irrigation.) This week, we’ll finish our summer planting by planting 150 watermelon plants. Last year we harvested 500 pounds of “ice box” melons. They were a fan favorite in the pantry. We’ll also harvest our first summer veggies (just a few) and cover beans with insect netting to control bean beetles and minimize use of commercial insecticide.
"The fruit of the garden is not restricted to what we eat. Every garden lends something more to the imagination--beauty."Vigen Guiroian, Orthodox theologian, in Inheriting Paradise
I confess I am always trying to figure out how to increase our volume of produce from the Lord's Acre Garden over last year. We increase our square footage a little, we extend our growing season with the hoop house, and I continually try to learn how to grow more in the same space by increasing soil health and experimenting with vegetable varieties and fertilization and watering schedules.
It's easy to forget that God's gift of the garden is as much in its beauty as its productivity. Next time you're there find something beautiful and say a little prayer of thanks.
Update on tomato cloning -- In last week’s email, I shared about using pruned “suckers” from tomato plants to develop plants to replace the victims of groundhogs and rabbits. The varmints honed in immediately on the young tender plants that were planted in the field row. All that’s left is the stem. The good news is only one (so far) has been nibbled to death.
- Doug Kearney
