A garden project not only provides sustenance to the hungry, but also fosters a stronger sense of community. Meg Anderson and Matt Davidson, married parishioners of the Crescent Family of Parishes just east of Cincinnati, share a passion for gardening. Last year, they learned of a Dayton-area cooperative that turned unused green space into gardens to feed the hungry.

Enthusiastic about what they’d seen, the couple brought the idea to their community, and the new Crescent Parishes Garden now supplies several local food pantries.

While St. Saviour provided the space, the garden has become a ministry uniting all five communities in the Crescent Family of Parishes: Church of the Resurrection, Holy Trinity, Church of the Nativity, St. John the Evangelist and St. Saviour.

“It was special, because this was really the first project as a family where we are coming together as [a] united ministry,” said Anderson, the Family of Parishes’ director of stewardship and outreach. “It was … very special to have so much support from all of our Crescent Parishes to make this happen, to build the garden and to collaborate and learn and get to know each other. We’ve come together as [a] united front to see that food insecurity is a huge issue in Cincinnati. To be able to provide healthy, nutritious food is a passion for us.”

The joint ministry started in May with 10 raised garden beds and a deer fence, then Crescent Parishes Pastor, Father Pat Sloneker, blessed the garden. Anderson and Davidson converted their living room into a greenhouse to start the plants, worked with botanists and master gardeners to maximize success, and even added a pollinator garden.

Since its inception, more than 800 pounds of fresh, organic produce have been distributed to the hungry via Crescent Families’ own food ministries and local food banks.

The parishes also teamed up with Last Mile Food Rescue, the area’s largest perishable food rescue organization, which helps route the garden’s harvest to where it can do the most good.

“We’ve been able to see God’s love in so many ways through the people we’ve been able to help, as well as in the lives of the volunteers who are helping us out,” Davidson said. “We’ve been able to see God working in their lives, as well bringing the parishes together in a way that gives back to the community.”

The garden yielded an impressive array of produce, including collard greens, snap peas, carrots, potatoes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and even watermelon. Anderson and Davidson are committed to extending the growing season through various techniques and have plans for expansion.

In May, the Crescent Parishes hosted a feast for parishioners to see the work done on the garden.

“When we came together in May that first time for our event, and all the parishioners went from eating in the undercroft together, sharing a meal and having that fellowship for the first time … it was so special, because everyone could actually see the garden and see the impact,” said Anderson. She continued, “I think we can really build off of this to promote healthy eating and living, and we’ll continue to just provide food for the community. I think this is really the start of something even greater to come.”

Learn more about Last Mile Food Rescue:  lastmilefood.org

This article appeared in the December 2023 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.