Harvest of Hope Memorial Garden: February 2023

The garden is a Memorial Garden, a garden of benevolence, a garden of love. It is a gift to our community from the God of Love, Jesus the Christ. The first “seeds” for our garden have come from members of the congregation and a designation from the congregation’s memorial funds. These seeds have brought us to the beginning of a journey that will last for many years. Guided by the Holy Spirit we will plow forth until row upon row of our work is accomplished and our community is better nourished. The Lord invites you all to be part of His work on earth strengthening and feeding His children. The garden is made possible by generous donations from the community, and grants from the ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants, the Alaska Food Policy Council through the Municipality of Anchorage, the Alaska Women's Giving Circle, The Alaska Master Gardeners of Anchorage, the generous support by the congregation of Lutheran Church of Hope, and support from the Alaska Synod of the ELCA.

Food from the garden in 2019 was sent to Lutheran Social Services Food Pantry, the Tudor Road Gospel Rescue Mission, and to Bean's Cafe.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Winter in the Garden II

January 2023 is now history. My brother used to live in southeastern Wisconsin and at the end of January would always have a party to celebrate the "death" of January. I didn't do that but the event we had at church on the 28th sort of commemorates that party. We planted petunias and lobelia. We anxiously await the germination of these seeds.

Gardening season has begun. The day are getting longer now by 5+ minutes each. That means we gain almost an hour of daylight every 10 days. Indeed spring is just around the corner. This month we will put leeks and onions in pots with some soil. By the middle of March there will be greens plants on tables and racks in the narthex. Each month from now through the middle of May there will be new plants springing to life. By the middle of May they will be moving to the garden. I look forward to planting once again inside the garden fence and hopefully in the completed greenhouse.

God’s peace be with you all.