Gideon’s Garden is a place where young people (grade school and up) plant, tend and harvest food for local food pantries and community meals programs. Gideon’s Garden is a place where people of all ages are welcome. Gideon’s Garden is a place where people go to pray…as families, as individuals. Gideon’s Garden is a place where all kinds of people come together for a common cause. Gideon’s Garden is a safe place where souls are nourished. Gideon’s Garden is a place where not only the ground, but people and even animals are blessed. Gideon’s Garden is a place where “the Spirit moves where it will”, and we know it. Gideon’s Garden IS!
In the winter of 2008, some St. James young people started dreaming, and on a bright, crisp day in June 2009 their dream became a reality. On that day, about 30 people came to bless and plant a 1/3-acre plot of earth at Taft Farms. We named the plot “Gideon’s Garden”. All summer and fall, young people and adults, from several churches and the wider community, tended and harvested the garden. In spite of too much rain all season, the garden seemed to thrive beyond all expectation.
Gideon’s Garden is not just any garden because the young people who first dreamed about it wanted it to help feed hungry people. The generous harvest of Gideon’s Garden supplies meals for the Breaking Bread Kitchen and the Stockbridge Open Table. Vegetables go to the People’s Pantry and others.
The youth germinated the idea, and St. James’ parishioner Pennie Curry nurtured it. For the second year, Taft Farms owners Dan and Martha Tawczynski are graciously contributing the plants and letting the youth use 1/2 acre (1/3 acre last year) of land. Taft Farms also helped decide what should be planted and prepared the ground for the garden, which is just across from Taft Farms on Division St. Several adults and older youth from the churches will oversee the project.
The name “Gideon’s Garden” comes from Gideon Bostwick, who was the first full-time rector of St. James (1770-1793). He was the real missionary founder of the Episcopal Church in western Massachusetts. While at St. James, Rev. Bostwick was missionary to 47 towns, riding on horseback 80-100 miles per week to spread the Christian Gospel to people in Connecticut, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts.