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A Garden Blossoms on Great Road
 Members of the Congregational Church of Littleton Plant, Cultivate, and Donate Crops to the Community Food Program
[Editor's Note: With Spring planting on many people's minds, it might be a good time to read about the efforts of one local church who turned an empty plot of land into a horn of plenty for the neighborhood hungry. The members started planting the seeds of giving in 2008 and are still harvesting good will today. Not only did they use the land for growing food, but they also used it as a worship space -- sitting among the produce that was grown by volunteers for local food pantries. Congregants brought their own chairs to the garden; and the pastor was accompanied during the service by a bagpipe and bass and guitar. About 175 people attended, which was a surprise for church staff since they did not know how it would be received. Here's the story, originally written in 2008.]
A garden blossoms on Great Road
By Betsy Levinson
Like the sprouts they have planted in the rich Littleton soil, the Garden at Church Meadows is growing inch by inch.
An eighth-acre plot is covered in weed suppressing black mesh now, with tomato or pepper plants peeking out from a hole cut into the cloth.
Members of the Congregational Church of Littleton Garden at Church Meadows committee planted it in the Spring of 2008 with an eye to donating the coming fresh, organic vegetables and herbs to Loaves & Fishes and the Neighborhood Supper food programs. The programs offer free food to the hungry in the area.
Loaves & Fishes is a local food bank located at Devens and the Neighborhood Supper provides a free meal monthly at the various churches in Littleton.
A parishioner from Westford donated the original black mesh mulch, according to Rev. Vern Swett, pastor of the King Street parish. The parishioner used his excavation equipment to make the soil ready and donated his time and backhoe to prep the land, and provided the water hookup.
Swett said garden groups and farmers from Littleton and Acton donated the vegetable plants, and some perennial flowers to the site. The church sold two acres of the seven-acre Great Road parcel for a daycare center, and intends to preserve ownership of the other five. The garden started with 100 feet by 50 feet.
"Volunteers have brought their hand tools to make this happen," said Thor Montgomery, a parishioner, as he surveyed the garden. "It is all for charity."
Response to the garden has been heartening. There is a wireless deer fence around the plot, and a physical wire fence that penetrates one foot into the ground to deter rabbits. The water department gave Church Meadows garden a discount on its water hookup. Parishioner Megan Ford applied to the local Council of Churches and received not only volunteer help, but a lawnmower donated from the First Church Unitarian. The Rotary Club has given a donation each year, and church member Wayne LaSante developed a "Googlegroups" Web site to recruit volunteers. Eleven Daisy Girl Scouts from Littleton Troop 62024 picked 66 lbs. in one week.
"We have been thinking for years that we should do something with the land," said Swett. "We thought a garden would be a great place to start." Who actually "made it happen" or started GACM is still up for debate.
There are about a dozen volunteers on the garden committee, mostly from the church community, but Loaves & Fishes has sent some volunteers too.
During the first year, the garden produced 2,100 lbs. of vegetables and herbs that were donated to Loaves and Fishes and the Neighborhood Supper at the church. The second year brought a similar crop.
In the back acreage, a refugee couple from Zimbabwe tilled the soil and planted maize for the Lowell-based African community; they delivered 100 dozen ears of maize, and it was gone within hours.
Swett said the food pantry gives out two tons of food a week, mostly canned goods, so the addition of fresh produce is welcome.
"We are giving them fresh, natural, organic green vegetables, plus recipes based on the vegetables," said Swett.
Volunteers are welcome, and need not have an affiliation with the Congregational Church. Call 978-978-6969 or email megandiane15@gmail.com for more information.
"It feels good," said Megan Ford as she planted tomatoes. "It's a lot of work, but it's good."
"It's a work in progress," said Swett.
For additional information, contact John Hutchins at the Congregational Church of Littleton, (978) 486-3245 or Email: hutchfye@netscape.com.
Reprinted from the 'Littleton Independent' Friday, May 30, 2008, with updated edits.
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