Garden

The St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden – 2011/2012

THE GARDEN IS CLOSED UNTIL spring of 2012. No new plot holders will be needed for 2012.

OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Ernst and Young who provided 40 volunteers to the garden in late September 2010. They raked, painted, weed-wacked, brush cut, chipped, dug, clipped, and removed debris. They donated gloves and weed-whackers, hand tools, rakes, pruners and their time and energy and more. Thank you to Ernst and Young.

In 2011 21 plots were available and gardeners who worked the soil, tended the crops, harvested their produce numbered about 32….folks ranged in age from senior adults to pre-schoolers. Some plot tenders were individuals or couples, families and friends who came together to garden plus members of B’Nai Jacob Synagogue cared for a ‘congregational’ plot. Some grew produce for their families and friends and others gave away to those in need almost all of their produce. PACS, St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter, Good Samaritan Shelter and many senior adults in the Phoenixville area were recipients of the produce. Folks at Fairview Housing benefited from the produce grown at the site.

The garden was founded in 1991 in response to the denominational priorities of Hunger Relief and Integrity of Creation, Justice and Peace. Today, the St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden is the primary supplier of in-season, fresh produce to the food bank at Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS). Anyone in the Phoenixville area who wants to grow their own food organically can join the community garden. We ask only that gardeners use organic growing techniques and donate 10% (the Biblical tithe) to someone in need or to a local agency which works on behalf of others (Phoenixville Area Community Services ["PACS"], Philibundance, etc.)

There are no required fees to join St. John's Organic Community Garden -- only a desire and a willingness to grow one's own food organically and return to the community at least 10% of the produce. St. Johns United Church of Christ remains the largest in season provider of fresh produce for the food bank administered by the Phoenixville Area Community Services, located on Gay and Church Streets in Phoenixville.

All inquiries pertaining to St. John’s United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth should be made directly to the church by calling 610 933-5311 and speak with Rev. Linda S. Gruber, Pastor.

The St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden, is located behind the Fairview Housing Complex at 412 FAIRVIEW STREET in Phoenixville.

THE ST. JOHNS LABYRINTH is a turf style labyrinth which was designed and dug by volunteers in 2004 and 2005 as a gift to the community to promote problem solving, stress reduction and spiritual growth through the ancient art of walking meditation. The labyrinth is open year round during daylight hours; guides to using this contemplative tool can be found in the Labyrinth Information mailbox at the labyrinth entrance.

The labyrinth can be used by individuals and groups, either without guidance or as part of a specific program such as dealing with chronic illness or addiction, supporting the cancer journey, relieving grief or loss, resolving artistic/writer’s block, developing a regular spiritual practice or examining one’s priorities.

A labyrinth is an ancient (at least 4000 years) walking meditation tool that follows one circuitous path to the center and out again. Unlike a maze, there are no dead ends or false pathways. If you follow the path, you will always come to the center and once you leave the center, you will always come to the exit.

The Labyrinth at St. Johns United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden site is a 7 circuit turf labyrinth modified from the 11 circuit Breamore turf labyrinth in England. Medieval Christians used labyrinths as a useful walking resource for prayer and celebrations. The most famous labyrinth in the world is the famed Chartes labyrinth in the Cathedral of Chartes.

There is no fee for using the labyrinth. We ask that persons are respectful of the grounds and the garden area beside the labyrinth as well as those persons who are using the labyrinth for meditation and those working at their garden sites. The labyrinth site is a wonderful place to come and sit, read, meditate and walk the labyrinth. Everyone is welcome. St. Johns United Church of Christ labyrinth was dedicated to the Glory of God in the name of the Holy Trinity. However, persons of all faith traditions are welcome to use the labyrinth utilizing prayers and meditations common to that faith expression.

Our aim is to provide a safe, quiet, meditative space for persons on their journey of life through meditation, prayer, mantra, introspective work, or just enjoying the outdoor experience.

The St. Johns United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth is located behind the Fairview Housing units at 412 Fairview Street, Phoenixville, PA. Fairview Street is on the north side of the Borough. If you would like directions to the garden site and labyrinth site, please call the church at 610 933-5311. St. Johns United Church of Christ is located at 315 Gay Street within the Borough of Phoenixville, between First and Second Avenues on Gay Street.

THE FOLLOWING was written by Dorene Pasekoff as a summary statement of our garden/labyrinth ministry in the spring of 2006:

St. John’s United Church of Christ Adds Labyrinth to Community Garden As Gift to Community

Since 1991, St. John’s United Church of Christ has sponsored a public community garden (currently located at the Fairview Village Housing Project at 412 Fairview Street) which offers free gardening plots to Phoenixville area residents and a rare plant repository/heirloom seed saving site for Seed Savers Exchange with botanical-garden quality specimens. Through the volunteer efforts of our gardeners, our community garden become the primary source of in-season fresh produce for the food bank at Phoenixville Area Community Services and provides twice-weekly hands-on instruction in organic gardening/seed saving techniques and outdoor community service opportunities for both Chester County youth and the Mitchell Program of St. Gabriel’s Hall.

Our Perennial Garden Volunteers, adults who meet weekly to tend both the plants and our youth helpers, felt that while the community garden was fulfilling its mission to feed the hungry, it was time to bring the natural beauty of the site to those who were overwhelmed by the stresses of modern life, yet did not find that working with plants spoke to them as it does to our gardeners.

As the community garden is open to anyone who wishes to work, feed themselves and others or simply relax with plants, it was felt that creating a labyrinth that was open and available to anyone at anytime they felt overwhelmed by stress and/or a time of difficult decisions would be the proper next step to opening the community garden as a place of healing to the greater Phoenixville community. Since the labyrinth would be created as part of a garden, we choose a standard British turf (grass/herb mounds between a walking path) design.

From 2004 to 2005, our youth helpers mattocked their way through shale create a 48 foot diameter turf labyrinth on the western edge of what is now called St. John’s United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth. The labyrinth structure was dedicated in June 2005 and since that time has been planted with traditional herbs, miniature roses and rare daffodils from the local chapter of the American Daffodil Society. Since its listing on the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator http://wwll.veriditas.labyrinthsociety.org/ this structure has inspired daily walkers who use the labyrinth for walking meditation, an alternative to yoga that provides the same mental and stress-relieving benefits, yet allows the body to move.

As our community garden provides food to those who hunger, we sincerely hope that those who hunger in their soul will find rest, peace and guidance on the winding path of Phoenixville’s only public labyrinth.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation are extended to the following for their generous donations of seeds and continued support of our community gardening efforts:

Why Participate in a Community Garden?

Who Can Join the Garden?

When Can I Join the Garden?

What Do I Receive to Garden?