MOCKSVILLE — Grow where you are planted.
That’s a lesson in faith, and in actuality for a group of volunteers working on a community garden at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
The St. Francis Faith and Fellowship Garden began in 2014 as wood boxes build by parishioners and Boy Scouts. The seven wooden boxes make up an “Outreach Cross.” Additional boxes are rented by parishioners to grow food for their families and to donate.
The garden is prospering thanks to fundraisers, private donations, two grants from the Diocese of Charlotte, a Knights of Columbus grant and many volunteer hours.
The St. Francis Faith and Fellowship Garden was started with a simple purpose: to bring people together, using available resources to grow food naturally for their families and neighbors in need.
By doing so, the hope of those tending the garden is to promote fellowship and good stewardship while benefiting parishioners as well as those in the surrounding communities.
The community garden’s outreach produce is donated to parish outreach beneficiaries as well as to The Storehouse for Jesus located in Mocksville.
From the beginning, the volunteers’ goal has been to increase the “outreach” donations. In 2015, the garden donated 212 pounds of produce. By 2017, donations totaled 409 pounds. And last year, the garden produced 615 pounds.
The garden has expanded and upgraded to raised-bed vinyl boxes. Not only are the boxes aesthetically pleasing and maintenance free, the height aids in weed control and makes gardening much more pleasant for the gardeners.
The 2019 growing season has been exceptionally good, with nearly 1,000 pounds of food donated as of September.
The weather cooperated, and the garden’s improvements have helped increase production. These improvements include adding 12 new vinyl boxes, mulch around the boxes, a new rear gate for access and new varieties of plants were planted to expand the growing season from March to December.
Produce grown this year included broccoli, beans, beets, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, leeks, lettuce, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes (including sweet), rutabaga, squash (zucchini and yellow), spinach and turnips.
The community garden also has a butterfly garden, and three mason bee boxes, located within the garden, to assist with pollination.
The St. Francis Faith and Fellowship Garden is fulfilling its purpose thanks to the hard work, commitment and generosity of so many people, as well as the quality products and beautiful space provided for gardening.
— Article submitted by David Taylor
American Heritage Girls Troop 0146 from St. John Neumann Church at the 2018 Hemby Bridge Christmas Parade. (Photo provided by Katie Moore)CHARLOTTE — Parents and parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte are giving girls aged 5 to 18 the opportunity to grow in their love of God, family, community and country through American Heritage Girl scout troops which offer faith-based programs.
American Heritage Girls, a Christ-centered leadership and character development ministry with more than 50,000 members, is offered in churches in all 50 states and internationally in 14 countries.
The family-friendly, multi-level structure (5 levels) means that girls aged 5 to 18 meet together as a single troop at the same time.
During troop meetings, girls and leaders break into units so that programming is tailored to the different age groups and abilities. This structure allows for natural mentorship for younger girls and leadership opportunities for older girls.
St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte sponsors American Heritage Girls Troop NC 0146, consisting of five units which are organized by grade level.
Troop coordinator Katie Moore has three daughters who participate in American Heritage Girls. She has a troop board of five adults and four additional parents who volunteer their time to make it a great experience for the girls.
“While we do have a lot of fun, our time together is primarily spent growing in character and learning about God’s love for us,” Moore says. “The goal of growing a generation of women who put God first in their lives is constantly before us.”
“I love being able to pour into these young ladies, and support their parents in teaching God’s ways instead of the world’s ways,” she adds.
Moore believes that while every parent has the responsibility of choosing what is best for their family, “I choose AHG because faith and character is at the heart of everything we do.”
Lisa Beekwilder has been a part of the American Heritage Girls troop at the parish for the past five years, and she has two daughters in the troop.
“AHG is a wonderful faith-based program that integrates the Catholic values we seek to teach in the formation of our girls,” Beekwilder says. “The AHG creed has 10 components to help form girls of integrity. As Catholic moms of girls know, it is very difficult to be raising girls of integrity and faith in this current culture.”
Girls are constantly being bombarded with images of what the world thinks they should look like or act like, she continued. “AHG is like a breeze of fresh air! The girls can be themselves, strengthen their personal character, form lasting faith-based friendships and serve in the community.”
She also enjoys seeing the girls laughing away and having a great time together.
“I love that there are older teenage girls working with the little ones. It’s adorable!”
“The AHG program is very organized and goal-oriented, so on the leadership side of things it’s easy to follow,” she notes. “I love that there is a wide spectrum of events. One weekend we can be hiking and the next weekend standing on the sidewalk holding pro-life signs with our parish community.”
What do Beekwilder’s daughters say about American Heritage Girls?
Emma, 10, says, “I love AHG because of the group togetherness. I also love the fun things we do.”
Lucy, 8, says, “I love AHG because of the love and kindness we share together. I think AHG is a wonderful group.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
For more information
At www.americanheritagegirls.org: Find out more about American Heritage Girls or inquire about starting a troop at your parish
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces the following clergy appointments, effective Oct. 15:
- Father Joseph Matlak, pastor of St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish in Charlotte, has been appointed as chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School and continues his assignment as chaplain of Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte.
- Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, has been appointed as chaplain of Christ the King High School in Huntersville.