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Garden project helps Sunnyslope grow together

Sunnyslope Church (Brethren/UCC) garden brings all ages together for building garden beds, tending new plants and harvesting the vegetables.   Photos courtesy of Sunnyslope Brethren/UCC

Sunnyslope garden draws people together. Photo courtesy of Sunnyslope

Naomi Ellingford, the Sunnyslope Brethren/UCC church office assistant since January, and her wife Kayla Ellingford are responsible for the garden project.

 Naomi started attending the church in January 2023. She grew up in Chelan involved in service activities in the school and community.

She and Kayla have a garden they tend at home.

A five-year-old church youth brought drawings of a community garden he had been making and dreaming up for the community.

Dane Breslin, the pastor, took him seriously, shared the drawings and asked people to sign up for what they would grow.

“We didn’t have space for a cherry tree, but the children were excited as they set up raised bed boxes and people planned what they would grow,” Naomi said.

“We wanted to support his efforts, so we got a team together to start building the church garden,” she said. “The children have been heavily involved every step of the way from planning to harvesting and preparing food from the garden.

“It has been a wonderful way to bring our growing church community together and to encourage multigenerational relationships to form and flourish,” Naomi said.

The church started it in spring of 2023, so has only had one growing season so far.

It allows for multi-generational involvement of three-year olds to 90-year olds digging, planting and harvesting side-by-side.

“We make salads and share them at fellowship time after services,” said Naomi.

“I feel gardening is spiritual. We come from the dirt and return to the dirt. Putting our hands in the soil is unifying,” she observed.

“It’s also an opportunity to understand climate in terms of what vegetables to grow and use waters. We grow a cover crop after the season to draw carbon into the soil,” Naomi explained.

“It’s a cool way to build community relationships,” she said.

For information, call 509-663-5745 or email office@sunnyslopechurch.org.

 

Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ Conference News © April 2024

 

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