The Garden at the Bishop Griffin Center
Why we do what we do
Have you ever been to a food pantry? Most give out pre packaged boxed or canned food items because it keeps the longest on the shelves. At the Bishop Griffin Center on the corner of Wellesley & East Livingston Avenue, they can walk out their back door to the St. Vincent dePaul Family Life Community Garden and have fresh produce to pass out along with the shelved staples.
The garden produces over 1000 lbs. of veggies, fruit, & herbs to give to the hundreds of people that visit the food pantry during the summer.
The community garden was started in 2007 by Marge Telerski and Connie Ford, parishioners of Christ the King Church. They received a grant from the Columbus Foundation to build raised beds and a fence. They have grown from 8 beds in 2007 to 22 beds of herbs, raspberries, strawberries, annuals, and perennials! Their plants came from donations, Dill's Greenhouse and seed. This impressive garden has produced a bounty of: tomatoes, tomatillos, okra, summer & winter squash, potatoes, peas, beans, swiss chard, kale, 5 varieties of peppers, collard greens, leaf & head lettuce, spinach, onions, and garlic.
We also have a greenhouse that helps us get a head start on the summer growing season.
The garden produces over 1000 lbs. of veggies, fruit, & herbs to give to the hundreds of people that visit the food pantry during the summer.
The community garden was started in 2007 by Marge Telerski and Connie Ford, parishioners of Christ the King Church. They received a grant from the Columbus Foundation to build raised beds and a fence. They have grown from 8 beds in 2007 to 22 beds of herbs, raspberries, strawberries, annuals, and perennials! Their plants came from donations, Dill's Greenhouse and seed. This impressive garden has produced a bounty of: tomatoes, tomatillos, okra, summer & winter squash, potatoes, peas, beans, swiss chard, kale, 5 varieties of peppers, collard greens, leaf & head lettuce, spinach, onions, and garlic.
We also have a greenhouse that helps us get a head start on the summer growing season.
We had help
They didn't do all this alone. Along the way, CIVI, Resurrection Youth Group, Boy Scouts and All Saints Preschool helped with planting and up- keep. All Saints Middle School science class & St. Catharine's Girl Scouts adopted a bed. Some of the beds are worked by families, the rest are cared for by volunteers from St. Catharine's, Christ the King, and Seton Parishes. The benches and rain barrels in the garden were built by volunteers, and Sam Harachis gave speeches to civic groups to raise money for a new shed to house tools as part of his Eagle Scout project. \
In 2008, this beautiful garden won the Outstanding Community Garden Award from Franklin Park Conservatory and was on the National Community Garden Tour for the National Community Garden Conference in August 2009.
In 2008, this beautiful garden won the Outstanding Community Garden Award from Franklin Park Conservatory and was on the National Community Garden Tour for the National Community Garden Conference in August 2009.
How you can help
There are a variety of ways to help. You can donate flowers, plants, mulch, flower pots, and garden tools or a string trimmer. When you divide your plants, give some to the garden. If you have a home garden, bring in extra produce that can be given to clients.
You can also volunteer your time working in the garden or helping to build a picnic table. Another idea is to sign up for the "Grow a Row" program in the garden and donate your extra produce to the Bishop Griffin food pantry.
You can also volunteer your time working in the garden or helping to build a picnic table. Another idea is to sign up for the "Grow a Row" program in the garden and donate your extra produce to the Bishop Griffin food pantry.
More ways you can help
There are many opportunities for individuals and groups to help with the garden project, and you might not have even thought of some of the ways we can use your assistance.
Select a project listed below or just call Marge Telerski at the BGC (338-8220).
Select a project listed below or just call Marge Telerski at the BGC (338-8220).
- Volunteers are needed to help weed and water a few hours each month. Once the harvesting begins, volunteers are needed to harvest on Wednesdays & Fridays.
- Adopt a bed in the garden. Plantings and/or seeds will be provided to you to plant and maintain through the season.
- Wanted: tomato stakes (take up less room than cages) and new paint paddles.
- Volunteers (especially with tools) are wanted to help assemble 5 water barrels that collect rain water.
- Planting at home? Start some pepper or head lettuce plants, then donate them to be transplanted into the community garden.
- Cold frames are also need to be assembled ASAP.
- Donations of mulch are needed.
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