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Fair A harvest for the hungry
The Giving Garden may be small, but it is mighty. On a small patch of earth at the back of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, there is an edible garden that helps feed hungry neighbors. This year the garden’s yield includes bush beans, bell peppers and tomatoes, all donated to the Long Island Council of Churches Freeport Emergency Food Pantry on North Main Street.
“Fresh food is a treat,” said the Rev. Ron Garner of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church. “Usually people donate canned goods, but we thought people would like something fresh to eat.”
“Nothing tastes as good as fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Brian Howe, of Wantagh Boy Scout Troop 96, who worked on this year’s garden. “And of course, it’s much more nutritious.”
The Giving Garden is Garner’s brain-child. Garner tended the garden for four seasons then turned it over to Brian Howe, an Eagle Scout from Massapequa, who planted and maintained the garden this season.
When Garner began the garden, congregants were donating canned goods and providing money to the food pantry. He wanted to do more. “Our church is mission-oriented and I thought we should do something concrete, something where you can see the fruits of your labor,” Garner explained.
He said he got the idea to plant the garden after visiting St. Mark’s Church in Bellmore. “They have a garden that supplies food and I thought it could work here,” he said.
Garner and his wife, along with their daughter, planted and maintained it for three seasons, “dragging the hose back here three times a week to water the garden,” Garner said, while congregants handled the harvest and delivered the food to Freeport.
Garner let the garden lay fallow for one growing season and then Howe revived it this year. “We didn’t have the time for it,” Garner said. “But Brian was very enthusiastic about it. He came to me this winter and said he wanted to care for the garden as his Eagle Scout project.”
The church sponsors Troop 96, and its Scouts have done many projects there over the years.
“I thought this was the kind of project that could have a real impact on the community,” Howe said. “It just felt right — that I could help get food on someone’s table.”
