MECHANICSVILLE, Va.—President Obama isn’t the only person who has been spotted buying Hanover tomatoes in Mechanicsville this summer. The well-loved tomatoes from Central Virginia’s Hanover County are also popular at a church-sponsored communty farmer’s market.
The mid-week market launched by New Highland Baptist Church in Mechanicsville in May and held each Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in a recreation field adjacent to the church is a gathering of about a dozen farmers with products such as fresh honey, locally grown fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats, cut flowers, herbs and handmade crafts.
Mike Sandridge, a farmer and bee keeper, finds his observation bee hive a great conversation starter at the New Highland Farmers Market.
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The congregation considered how it could maximize the use of its facility and reach its community through strategic planning, says Mike Sandridge, ministry team leader. Among the ideas that surfaced was a market to help foster relationships with local farmers and provide a healthy way for neighbors to gather and interact with each other.
New Highland received a grant from the Dover Baptist Association’s Connections Project, allowing the church to purchase tents and advertise the market. Trevor Buckley oversees the market’s weekly operation. The grant also provided helped with a stipend for him and other administrative costs.
“Since the market started our family has enjoyed eating fresh lettuce, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, blueberries, strawberries, bratwurst, eggs, eggplant and more,” says Robert Lee, pastor at New Highland Baptist Church. “It is good for children to know where their food comes from and to eat healthy. It is also a vivid reminder of how God supplies all our needs.”
During market hours a variety of musicians have entertained patrons from a nearby picnic pavilion and the vendors now offer a free basket of veggies through a drawing each week. On July 4 the market was open in the morning with games and activities for families. A Facebook page created for the market has over 100 fans and Sandridge says vendors are beginning to see repeat customers.
The market atmosphere is friendly with local farmers able to offer personal attention to customers. It’s also provided a great opportunity for New Highland to connect with neighbors, he says.
Westover Baptists’ third annual July 4 celebration attracted all ages for a holiday meal and fireworks.
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While the heat has forced many people indoors this summer, members of Westover Baptist Church in Richmond have devoted extra hours outdoors, planting and harvesting their first hospitality garden. Elizabeth M. Lott, associate pastor at Westover, says the garden has changed the way the church operates its traditional feeding ministry.
“We believe health and wellness should not be a privilege,” Lott says. For many of Westover’s neighbors who live in poverty, the choice is between food that is not good for them and food that’s only good for one meal, she admits.
While the church’s food pantry puts non-perishable staples in the hands of neighbors in need of monthly assistance with groceries, the hospitality garden has added a new dimension to this ministry, allowing it to offer fresh vegetables and herbs. Lott hopes this is only the first step.
While a small plot was planted on a sunny lawn outside the church offices this summer, the congregation’s vision is to expand the garden, adding healthier, higher quality staples to its pantry, and eventually adding cooking and gardening classes for all food pantry clients. “We don’t want to be strangers handing out food,” replies Lott. “We want our food ministry to foster relationships.”
The congregation’s third annual Westover July 4 Celebration was one of five community cookouts scheduled for this summer. While enjoying free hot dogs, watermelon and snowcones, over 100 neighborhood residents were able to watch the fireworks display at nearby Dogwood Dell from the church’s front lawn.
The importance of sitting around the table with one another casts a compelling vision of how churches and communities can connect with one another, says Pastor Justin Joplin.
Barbara Francis ( [email protected]) is a staff writer for the Religious Herald.