Some local young people started dreaming last winter, and on Saturday, June 6, they will begin to make their dream a reality. Youth (grade school and up) from some south Berkshire churches will meet Saturday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m. to plant a vegetable garden. It won’t be just any garden because the youth will use the harvest to supply meals for the Breaking Bread Kitchen and the Stockbridge Open Table. Other vegetables will go to the People’s Pantry. On Saturday morning the bounds of “Gideon’s Garden” will be blessed and prayers will be said by the youth and clergy of St. James, St. Paul’s Stockbridge, and Christ Church Episcopal-Trinity Lutheran Church.
The idea for this originated last December as a group of youth from St. James Episcopal Church made holiday wreaths at Taft Farms. They decided that garden planting, tending, harvesting, and then making food from the produce for others to enjoy would be a wonderful thing.
The youth germinated the idea, and St. James’ parishioner Pennie Curry nurtured it. She invited Taft Farms to contribute some land and the plants for the garden. Taft Farms owners Dan and Martha Tawczynski graciously agreed to contributing the plants and letting the youth use 1/3 acre of land for a year. Taft Farms also helped decide what should be planted and prepared the ground at 26 Division St. Several adults from the churches will serve as key people to assist the youth in their 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.
Photographs of the event are here.