In January of 2024, a number of OLV parishioners interested in co-creating a community garden came together to discuss the possibility of starting one in the open grassy area across the creek; behind the parish rectory. 

The parishioners – who have been imagining ways on how to better use the grassy open area for something good – were inspired by Pope Francis's 2015 second encyclical, Laudato si', calling for the care of our common home, resonating with Saint Francis of Assisi; by the urban gardens in and around Baltimore that bring communities together to co-create, care, and serve one another in need; and by different traditional and cultural practices of gardening to provide fresh produce to one's family and to donate as offerings to the church. 

• During the Seek the City to Come process, the community garden discussion was put on hold until May, when it was determined that OLV would remain open, then the garden was finally approved to start with the understanding that gardeners agreed to donate half of their produce to the parish Food Pantry.

• Due to grant budget constraints and uncertainty of retaining committed gardeners, the garden distribution was limited to small plots of six for the time being. 

• The goal is to eventually expand the garden if more parishioners express interest and commitment before the next planting season. 

• The expansion will involve procuring additional metal poles, fencing materials, and others followed by physical labor on the ground for several hours, if not days, depending on the size of expansion and the number of available gardeners and volunteers.

For now, the community garden is open to parishioners only. If interested, please contact the garden committee members: Kelly Neale, Joan Nau Huai, and Andrea Craig. We can't wait to hear from you!