Church's Veggie Patch Will Benefit Members, Families in Need

An ambitious garden project that will likely benefit many Saucon Valley residents is taking shape at Christ Lutheran Church of Hellertown.

Patch gardening blogger and project organizer Angela Drake reported that produce grown in the recently-constructed raised beds at the church on Main Street will benefit both members and local families in need.

"We hope to donate excess produce to the local food bank, as well as share it with each other after church with a donation jar," Drake said. "Monies again (will) go to the food bank at New Jeruselem Church."

Drake said six or seven people volunteered to help build the beds, which were filled with free loads of compost obtained from the Saucon Valley Compost Center and donated horse manure. Even the red oak lumber used to build the beds had a local connection, having been purchased from a small lumbar yard in Springtown, Drake explained.

The project itself developed from discussions at the church's weekly adult Sunday School discussion group.

"We were talking about how we as a church could be leaders in taking care of our beautiful world and be ecologically thoughtful on a local basis," Drake said. "I took that idea and suggested we make a community garden for our members."

"We are asking the gardeners to not use heavy chemicals; (to) try to go organic," she added. "Now we need to plant and grow tasty veggies!"