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)

UPDATE: St Francis Sustainable Gardens: We Got Started

Dear All,

I would like to personally thank the gardening team of the following volunteers, the biggest work crew yet for spring cleaning:
  • Frank Fazekas
  • John Sherry 
  • Patrick Sherry
  • Rose Sherry
  • Susan Bass
  • Kathryn Wissman
  • Julie White
  • Joan Meagher
  • Mark Gawronski
  • Erich Jensen
  • Ann Marie Jensen
  • John Schommer
  • Tracy Nagy

This team of volunteers accomplished the following tasks (selected photos are attached) in just under 2 hours on a sunny, beautifully cool Saturday morning, 26 April 2014, a perfect spring garden cleaning and clearing day:
  • Rake/gather the leaves from the interior and exterior perimeters of the main vegetable and herb garden (P.S. Susan Bass additionally pruned/trimmed all "deadwood" from the perennials and herb plants)
  • Compost the leaves and other vegetative debris in the city and on site compost bins
  • Deliver compost (special kudos to Tracy Nagy) just to left of bramble (and rhubarb) garden
  • Edge, weed and de-stone the rectory backyard garden for native Michigan plantings (P.S.  Erich Jensen planted Autumn Joy Sedum (n = 5); white spruce (n = 2) and red twigged dogwood (n = 7) later that day)
  • Clear/dig up most of excessive grasses, overgrown plants and buckthorn from the future educational native plant bed located bed uphill and south of Parish Office in the cedars/arborvitae hedge along Winchell Street (John Schommer and Ann Marie and Erich Jensen did this activity on Wednesday afternoon, 23 April 2014)
  • Remove mulch from church front step "east" planter (P.S.  Erich and Ann Marie Jensen cleared the remaining mulch and all plants including the transplanting of 2 holly bushes on 29 April 2014)
  • Repair of board(s) (i.e., donation from Fingerle Lumber)  for the main vegetable and herb garden
  • Plant numerous rows of vegetable seeds in beds for the main vegetable and herb garden (P.S.  The Sherry family has been planting other vegetables; (e.g. spinach and peas have germinated) for several weeks already)
  • Receive hoop house hardware from Ace Hardware (special kudos to Joan Meagher for outreach to local merchants) and replacement fencing for the interior of main vegetable and herb garden

Please note that although some individuals were cited specifically above, ALL volunteers worked diligently and completely on ALL tasks, no matter what they were assigned to do.  The results of the garden spring clean up are truly outstanding, and another small corner of the world is ready for crop production and native plant restoration/introductions.

With gratitude and blessings,
Erich Jensen
Co-coordinator, St Francis of Assisi Sustainable Gardens

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