The St. Francis Sustainable Garden Project supports the hungry, at-risk children and their families in our area. We use a garden plot in front of the St. Francis rectory where we grow and harvest herbs, vegetables and flowers. In past years each harvest has produced over 180 lbs. of produce- all delivered to the pantry at Foundations Preschool of Ann Arbor, - child care center for at-risk, low-income families.

The St. Francis Grounds & Botanical Gardens: Several gardens surround the St Francis of Assisi campus of buildings, including, but not limited to, the church, school, rectory and/or parish offices. These gardens need to be a beautiful expression of hospitality, in particular, the entrances, to our fellow parishioners and visitors as well as reflect a statement of our appreciation for God's creation and nature.

Questions? Contact: Scott Wright (734-821-2121)

St Francis Sustainable Garden: 2013 Summary

Dear All,

Congratulations on a stewardship well done this past garden season, and thank you for your efforts on the following:
THE TOTAL HARVEST OF ALL CROPS IN 2013 WAS 212 POUNDS, up significantly from (2012) last year's 97.9 pounds (due to drought) AND almost twice the harvest from 2011 which was 125 pounds! (see attached color coded chart from Patrick Sherry)
Additionally the Sustainable Garden treasury is solvent and comfortably in the black due to successful fundraising events (i.e., spring seed and plant sales) and donations (a special thanks to Joan Meagher for her outreach and persuasion of our donors). 
2013 Main Events Recap:
  • Apr 6-7: Seed Sales after Weekend Masses
  • Apr 20:  Compost Haul
  • May 18: Garden Bed Preparation
  • May 18-19: Seedling and Plant Sales after Weekend Masses
  • May 23: Seed Potato Planting with St Francis 5th Graders
  • May - Sep: Daily Watering and Weeding, as needed (Special thanks to Fazekas, Jensens, Sherrys, Julie, Joan and Katy)
  • May - Sep: Biweekly Delivery of Produce to Perry Nursery School (Special thanks to Jensens and Sherrys)
  • Sep 27: Potato Harvest with St Francis 6th Graders
  • Oct 12: Fall CleanUp - Time, Talent and Treasure "Meet and Greet"

Additional Highlights
  • First harvest of garlic (planted previous Oct) in early spring
  • Earliest planting of cool crops of spinach and sugar snap peas
  • Initiated Michigan native plant project with donations, sales and plantings
  • Revitalized hillside garden bed south of Parish Office for potato and bush bean crops and Michigan native plants
  • Removal of ice storm damaged cedar trees allowed expansion of bramble patch (red and black raspberries)
  • Obtained City of Ann Arbor compost bin for weekly debris pickup (Thanks to Dave Barera)
  • Involved St Francis school children in potato crop planting and harvest (Thanks to Wendy Lemke)
  • Explored natural remedies for plant health (e.g., chive solutions for squash plant mildew)
  • Donated extra flowering plants to Peace Garden near west front school entrance

Future Improvements
  • Replace mesh barrier in main garden due to nesting, not eating bunny invasion
  • Replace/reconnect a couple of wood boards of raised beds in main garden
  • Set up/test hoop house (new donation of materials from Ace Hardware) next year in main garden
  • Clear/convert second hillside garden bed south of parish office for plantings
  • Use/plant cleared areas from fallen/removed cedar trees
  • Involve St Francis School in Seedling/Plant starts in winter 2014
  • Complete more grant applications/initiatives with local businesses and organizations

Thank You
  • Donors:  Downtown Home and Garden, Ace Hardware, Meijer's, Turner's, Ann Arbor Native Plants
  • Sponsors: Father Jim (and now Father James) and Scott Wright (e.g., communicating time and talent recruits and maintaining the blog: http://sustainable-garden-project.blogspot.com/ )
  • Dave Barera and operations staff on equipment storage and retrieval
  • Previous and new volunteers who have actively participated in garden activities and events.  Apologies for not specific volunteer citations/thank you on ALL the numerous other and behind the scenes activities.


God bless you, ALL.
In Christ,
Erich Jensen and Rose Sherry
Garden Coordinators
734.771.8511 (Erich's cell)

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THANK YOU to everyone who was involved in the harvest project!  The families at Perry Nursery School literally ate it up this year :-)  Everything was snatched up and used.  

Here is a great story about how your garden affects our families:

One afternoon a young mom came to pick up her daughter.  The girl went to the counter and pointed to the rhubarb and asked her mom if they could take some home to eat.  The mom picked it up, turned it over and over and looked very perplexed.  I asked, "Can I help you?"  She said, "What is this?"  I explained what it was and how it could be cooked and used.  She said she did have internet at home and I suggested that she look up some simple recipes and to have fun with it.

Here is why this story touches me.  A mom and daughter learned something new.  The daughter was excited over being able to take something home - something she had never seen before.  The mom gets to be a hero - she didn't just say "no" to her daughter, but explored the possibilities and was willing to try.  I never did find out the results, but that memory will stick with me forever.  Thank you!

Sandy Williams, Development Director at Perry Nursery School of Ann Arbor
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