PCCT Community Garden Fights Food Insecurity
Over 200 pounds of produce, and herbs donated to local food pantry
Congregation members at The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township (PCCT) are sowing the seeds of hope for families facing food insecurity. Over the past two years, volunteers have turned an unused poultry and produce farm into a community garden to provide fresh herbs and produce to a local food pantry.
When Craig and Lisa Duke moved to the Chatham area several years ago with their daughter, Natalie, they inherited an unused garden space. They dreamed of turning the ground into a productive community garden with help from the community. They approached the Mission and Outreach Committee of the church with their idea. With support from Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc., the Duke family created a plan for the project. Church members and leaders enthusiastically embraced the project as a way for members of the congregation to give to others in need.
“We’ve always wanted to use the property for the greater good,” says Lisa Duke. “It has been rewarding to see church members of all ages come together to work on developing this new mission project.”
In the summer of 2021, volunteers cleared weeds and began building raised garden beds. This past spring, volunteers hauled more than 20 cubic yards of dirt and compost to fill 10 garden beds – a monumental task. Afterward, volunteers planted snap peas, lettuce, arugula, swiss chard, herbs, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, string beans, onions, radishes, and much more. Volunteers provided over 100 hours of community service to build, plant, tend and harvest the garden. After two years, the hard work paid off. The garden yielded more than 200 pounds of fresh produce and herbs that were donated to fight hunger in the community.
“It has been a blessing to make use of an underused space to benefit the church and community as a whole,” Lisa says.
The Dukes say the project greatly exceeded their expectations and welcome more volunteers next spring when the volunteer group returns for a new planting season. The Dukes hope to get more families involved and create workshops on gardening, composting, and sustainability.
“Our newly established community garden is PCCT’s latest example of how we are fulfilling our mission to help support those experiencing food insecurity,” says Carolyn Smith, chair of the Mission and Outreach Committee. “Congregants are attracted to this type of ‘hands-on’ mission work where they can see the results of their collective efforts – in this case, fresh vegetables and herbs delivered weekly to a local food bank for distribution.”
The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township is a vibrant, multi-generational congregation that celebrates the glory of God through faith, fellowship, and service. Drawing members from three counties and more than 20 communities, it welcomes all, whether you are a young family, a single adult, or a couple with grown children. The congregation reflects diverse perspectives, provides rich music and education programs for all ages, and through social outreach addresses hunger, homelessness and recovery from disasters or other crises.
Follow PCCT on Facebook and Instagram to see the church in action. For more information, visit pcct-nj.org or call 973-635-2340.
