Community growing schemes are enabling churches to develop relationships with people who would never come to a Sunday service; because of that, opportunities arise for church members to pray with their neighbours in times of need or struggle. It is a new expression of what church is and can be when relating to the unchurched neighbourhood. Community gardening initiatives vary from gardens whose object is to provide social connection to sustainable food production, supplying foodbanks and other areas of need. Some churches are involved in both. The environmental adviser to the Archbishops’ Council sees the potential for community food-growing alongside therapeutic gardening in initiatives such as the Church Times Green Church Awards, churchyard initiatives, biodiversity projects, and the target to be carbon-neutral by 2030. There is a huge surge of interest from people wanting to grow something.
Community growing schemes
Written by David Fletcher 11 Jun 2020Additional Info
- Praise: God for the various gardening expressions of church in rural and urban communities. (Genesis 1:12)
- More: www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/5-june/features/features/yes-we-are-interested-in-growth