St. Thomas the Apostle Community Garden

The U.S. Episcopal Church has embraced the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations to reduce suffering worldwide in eight critical areas by 2015. The number one millennium development goal: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

About a year ago, a group of parishioners at the Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle took a long look at the vacant lot the church owns adjacent to the church buildings. What waste, we thought. Could this field of weeds help fight hunger right here where we live by becoming a community garden? But then the reality set in: how would we do that? Most of us knew how to buy vegetables, not grow them.

But then things began to happen. Parishioners began donating time and equipment. Day by day, week by week, the garden began to take shape.

Today, two large “pantry plots” are growing everything from lettuce to beets to tomatoes, with all our harvest going to local organizations dedicated to fighting hunger in our community. We are working especially with North Dallas Shared Ministries and the Resource Center of Dallas.

In addition, 16 private plots are being tilled by individuals growing their own food, with a promise to “tithe” 10 percent of their harvest to a hunger organization of their choice.

Our first harvest should begin in late May.

It’s been a remarkable transformation from vacant lot to bountiful garden in such a short period of time. Those of us working in the garden have, from the very first, felt as if we were doing something extraordinary, even though we had no idea how it would turn out.

“Our Community Garden is growing food to fight hunger right here where we live,” said the Rev. Stephen J. Waller, Rector of St. Thomas. “It reflects the Millennium Development Goals of our national church to eradicate hunger wherever it occurs. Our community garden as well as our recently restored and rebuilt church facilities reflect our commitment and growth as a parish of thinking, tolerant Christians engaged in life with our God, our families and friends, and the broader community within the best traditions of the Episcopal Church.”

In February, The Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas The Apostle announced that the Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, the Most Rev.Katharine Jefferts Schori, would visit the Dallas parish on Monday April 28.

During her visit, the Presiding Bishop participated in a blessing service for the new Saint Thomas Community Garden, toured the newly restored and rebuilt Saint Thomas church buildings and conversed with community members and visitors at a reception in the parish hall.

“We are honored that the Presiding Bishop has accepted our invitation to visit our parish in Dallas, and we eagerly look forward to having her with us on April 28,” said Rev. Waller.

We hope the pictures on this page will give you a sense of the joy and gratitude we share at St. Thomas as we share our Community Garden with our community, and with the whole church.