Winter thoughts
It’s cold outside, but already I’m making moves about what I want to plant this summer. The year 2012 was a hard summer with extreme heat in July and the drought that hit the Midwest really hard. Farm crops suffered. Already I’ve seen a change in the current winter. Here, outside of Chicago, we still have not had a measurable snowfall in 320+ days. We’ve had some rain and sleet, but no snow. I can’t help but notice the killer heat down under in Australia right now: 122 degrees in the shade. Is this what we have in store for this coming 2013 summer? Heaven and Earth Growers did well with their harvest last year, but it took a lot of watering and dedicated volunteers to maintain the gardens. We learn a lot from our harvests: what did good and what we won’t plant next year. Keeping it simple is a bit hard for me because I like variety. I end up planting tight rows – but a resolution this year to give my plants more space. The H&EG gardens can simplify, but I might try new varieties in my home garden. Thinking organic thoughts.
H&EG Annual Report 2012
In the spring of 2012, ECP members and friends of H&EG helped to add on another eight feet of garden space to the west. Our garden now measures 24’x24’. The garden was planted late due to the addition, and harvest was a bit lower than last year. Vegetables also took a hit from the very high summer heat and drought. However, special thanks go to Jeff Waters, Dave Fuesz, Craig Happel and Jim and James Gegeanis for helping with the garden addition. Also thanks to Tim Christopher for his help in the fall garden clean up.
Our 2012 total produce donation update: 667 pounds planted, harvested and donated. This total donation is a combination of EPC’s Children’s Garden (164), H&EG individual donations (118), one garden plot at the Elmhurst Park District’s Golden Meadows (143), and the garden on Church Street (242)—south side of the Methodist Church. The Church Street garden was worked by Amy McConnell and family, gardeners from St. Peter’s UCC, youth group from Faith United Methodist, and H&EG. The EPC Children’s Garden held its own thanks to Jeff Waters, John & Dawn Helm, Dave & Pam Fuesz and, and all the little children of EPC. Our produce was mostly delivered to the Yorkfield Food Pantry, People’s Resource Center, Shared Senior Housing in South Elmhurst, Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry and the pantry at IC. We have more young growers every year who are learning the craft of growing their own food. This was our sixth season of growing to give and we are always learning something new. Since the summer of 2007, Heaven and Earth Growers have donated a total of 2,892 pounds of fresh, organic vegetables to local food pantries. We are hoping to build another garden in 2013 at a new location in Elmhurst. We thank God that so many good growers participate in our cause by donating their extra produce to feed others. Thanks to all the growers…to them we are forever grateful.
Many hearts combined make a rewarding experience for all. Thanks be to God. We Grow to Give!
