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: Register for Upcoming Events

Many thanks to Julie Lavender, Frank Fazekas, Rose, Patrick and John Sherry, Erich and Ann Marie Jensen, Katy Derezinski, Susan Bass, and Janice Lacombe for Spring Cleanup on Saturday Apr 25 (see photo here).
 
Future events:
  1. May 10 (Seed and Plant Sale):  1 hour slots for Setup, Sale Table, and Tear Down opportunities
  2. May 16 (Planting): 1-3 hours to Plant Vegetables
  3. Starting week of June 6 through mid Sep (Garden Maintenance): 1 hour per week to Water/Weed/Mulch/Other
  4. Other events will be posted, as needed.
 
To register/volunteer for these events (and several of you already have), please click on Sign-Up Genius link:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4baeaf29ab9-garden1 
 
or contact me or Rose by email or phone (see below).

Check out our webpage and blog (at bottom of page), too: 
 
 
Thank you, 
Erich Jensen 734.771.8511
Rose Sherry 734.657.0197  family@rosendon.com

 
            
           

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Seed and Plant Sale May 10

St Francis Sustainable Garden Ministry:  May 10 Seed and Plant Sale
 
This ministry (1) grows and harvest vegetables  and (2) plants and maintains Michigan natives
 
Do You Like or Want To Garden?
Please consider purchase of seeds and plants for your vegetable and/or native plant gardens or Mother's Day gifts before, during and after the 8:30 and 10:30 masses in front of the PAC.
 
To volunteer for the sale and other garden activities, sign-up at stfrancisa2.com/sign-up-forms or
contact Rose Sherry 734.657.0197 or Erich Jensen 734.771.8511 for details.

 

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Sustainable Garden Saturday, April 25 meet and greet

Do You Like or Want To Garden?

 St Francis Sustainable Garden Ministry seeks additional volunteers this season.
Please join us at 10 am on Saturday, April 25 for meet and greet and spring garden clean up at the garden just on the northside of the rectory (please bring a shovel and/or trowel).   Additional volunteers will help to:

(1) Grow and Harvest Vegetables
(2) Plant and Maintain Michigan Natives
(3) Setup and Sales for the annual seedling/plant sale on May 10
         before, during and after the 8:30 and 10:30 masses only.
         The sale is positioned in front of the PAC.

Contact Rose Sherry 734.657.0197 or Erich Jensen 734.771.8511 for details.
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St Francis Sustainable Garden: The 2014 Harvest Results

Patrick Sherry has tabulated this year's harvest, and I share 2 slides from his awesome presentation here.

Bottomline:  Through YOUR great consistent and thorough volunteer efforts in the SUSTAINABLE GARDEN from spring preparation through summer crop production to fall cleanup, we harvested and delivered 197 pounds of produce to Foundations Preschool (previously known as Perry Nursery School).
 
Thank you very much.  God is bountiful!  Happy Thanksgiving.
 
With deep appreciation,
Erich Jensen and Rose Sherry
Garden Coordinators 

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TWO Initiatives, ONE Project

Feed Hungry Neighbors, and new this year:
Support Michigan Native Plants Initiatives.

St. Francis Sustainable Garden Projects
Our first garden project provides fresh organic produce and herbs to Foundations Preschool of Ann Arbor (Perry) Families, a program for children of low-income at risk families.

An additional brand new initiative is our Michigan Native Plant Garden,
part of our Sustainability Project.
Donations and volunteers are also welcome.   Come learn about gardening!  Interested? Please contact Erich Jensen at: erichjensen@msn.com or (734-771-8511).


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Save the Date Oct 11: St Francis Sustainable Garden Update

Dear All,
 
The rest of the garden was harvested this past Monday.  (Example: ~30 pounds of potatoes and more beans, tomatillos, carrots).  There is only a need to visit the garden for watering )the rain barrels are brimming with water), if needed, for the pole beans in Paul and the young bush beans in Matthew, at this time.  The hoop house may be installed across it and Mark (currently empty) for spinach planting.  Stay tuned for a message from Rose.
 
The fall garden clean up date is targeted for 9 am on Saturday, Oct 11.  (Yes, I know it is a home football game that does not start until 7 pm).  Hope you can make it, as we will be thankful for the additional help.  Let me or Rose know, if you are planning on coming or not.
 
Kind regards,
Erich Jensen
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Bounty and Beauty Updates (August 5)

Sustainable Garden Project

St. Francis Sustainable Gardens: Bounty and Beauty Updates.
TWO garden initiatives under ONE sustainable garden project continue to grow at St Francis: (1) Feed Hungry Neighbors AND (2) Embrace Michigan Native Plants.
The “Feed Hungry Neighbors” initiative now in its 14th summer offers an even wider variety of fresh organic produce and herbs that are shared earlier and later in this season for the Perry Nursery School, a child care center for at-risk children and their families.
This initiative was expanded this year to:
  • Cultivate/plant berry plants (e.g., blueberries, red/black raspberries, and huckleberries)
  • Use free standing garden containers/bags  to grow more potatoes and peppers
  • Install 2nd rain barrel donated by St Francis girl scout troop
  • Rebuild new pole bean trellis, boards for raised beds, and wildlife(e.g., rabbits) barrier fence
  • Identify all garden beds with faith based (i.e., scripture) signage (e.g., 4 Gospels)
  • Install hoop house on a raised bed to extend growing season for increased food production

The “Embrace Michigan Native Plants” initiative has been ramped up this Spring and Summer to introduce a variety of local plants to beautify the church grounds that also attract butterflies and birds and, additionally, to educate and encourage parish members and school children on native plants use.
This year’s activities for this initiative have included:
  • $250 grant award from the Wildflower Association of Michigan for native plants
  • Clearing/replanting of the church’s 2 front steps brick planters including the addition of  > 4000 pounds  of fresh top soil and at least 8 types of native perennials, bushes and grasses
  • Clearing/planting of the rectory’s sloping backyard beds with more than a dozen types of native perennials, woody ornamentals, and evergreens
  • Clearing a large (10 by 25 feet) overgrown school yard raised bed for future native plantings
Check out our sustainable garden blog here for more complete information and photos.
“The Sustainable Gardens” ministry here at St Francis invites all parishioners to view them and welcomes volunteers and donations at any time.  Please contact Master Gardener and Ministry Co-Coordinator, Erich Jensen, 734.771.8511 or erichjensen@msn.com.
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