Planting Trees for our Future and Gardens to Nourish our Community

Seeds and seedlings are going in the ground this summer and fall.

Two faith communities are using their vegetable gardens to provide nourishing options for the community. Tim Nuzum and his team at St. John's United Methodist Church grows a wide variety of vegetables to prepare meals for three organizations that help needy families and individuals (Hope Works, Community of Hope and Casa Esperanza). Tim graduated from the culinary arts program at Central New Mexico Community College. 

At St. John XXIII Catholic Community, a team of garden volunteers and tends four raised beds with produce to add to the offerings provided by the church pantry. The 40 or so individuals who come to the pantry on Thursday mornings are pleased to have access to squash, tomatoes, green chile and other peppers.

The 32-acre Rio Grande Community Farm (also known as Los Poblanos Open Space) hosts a number of non-profits. A part of the property is the 3-acre community garden west of Alvarado Elementary School, where Tres Hermanas Farm, a program sponsored by Lutheran Refugee Services to provide refugees an opportunity to grow their own food.

And finally, New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light's Forest of Bliss campaign has 35 trees at the Rio Grande Community Farm/Garden, with another 30 scheduled to go in the ground in the fall.

(Cover photo from Judy Traeger at St. John XXIII Catholic Community)