SHIRLEY — Some of the rectangles are dark, the color of freshly turned earth. Others are lighter, still awaiting tending and the planting of a crop.
Together, bound in a large square with about 200 feet of low fence, they form a garden south of Shirley-Wilkinson Community United Methodist Church.
Some church members have planted — and replanted, after a late frost — what’s growing there. Beans, squash and watermelon. Tomatoes, onions and zucchini. A little kale and lettuce for the pastor’s tortoise.
Aside from the tortoise food, the crops represent another avenue for the church to feed bodies as well as souls. Some plantings are by people lacking space to grow at home; some are by church members growing veggies to give away.
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The church had been planning to serve meals this summer, when children are away from school lunches. Then the COVID-19 quarantine closed schools in March, and students shifted to completing online lessons at home. When that happened, the church decided to start serving meals earlier, offering carry-out lunches on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Rev. Rick Hutson thinks growing food will be a benefit for the church’s food pantry and for meal preparation.
"I like to garden," he said. "I figured that we can use it in our lunch program or give it away."
Longtime members told Hutson the church had had a garden years ago. When he was open to reestablishing one, they told him they knew someone who could till ground for one. The fence and a spigot complete the setting.
Other churches have used their grounds to either offer gardening space or grow produce to give away. The Garden of Eat’n, for example, at Faith Lutheran Church in Greenfield has over the years yielded produce for church members and food donations to Hancock County Food Pantry and Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen.
Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine started its Grace Garden in 2018 to offer fresher, healthier options at its food pantry. This year broccoli, cabbage and heirloom tomatoes are among the plants growing there.
Members of St. John United Church of Christ tend a few garden plots at their church in the Cumberland area. And in 2016, New Hope Church of the Nazarene east of Greenfield offered 20-by-20-foot garden plots to community members, encouraging growers to donate a portion of their produce to service organizations.
Donita Willis grew up watching family members garden but hadn’t done it herself until now in the Shirley garden. She’s planted green beans, zucchini, kohlrabi, ornamental corn and a couple of hills of watermelon.
"I’ve never gardened," she said, "so I’m not sure what’s going to happen."
Willis sometimes ventures to the garden after helping serve the take-out meals from the church. Monday, for example, more than 60 people stopped by to pick up pizzaburgers, applesauce and cottage cheese. Afterward, people from the congregation delivered a few more meals to older residents, and surplus buns were divvied and delivered, too.
Willis and Hutson said the community has offered great support to aid the meal work, from a restaurant offering food after closing its dining room, to individuals — some of them friends of friends of church members — dropping donation checks into the mail.
Growers hope to also bolster help for hungry people with fresh produce from the garden.
"We’ve got a lot of stuff here," Hutson said. "It’s going to feed a lot of people."
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Shirley-Wilkinson Community United Methodist Church hands out carry-out sack lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from the church at 309 South St., Shirley.
The church has served more than 600 meals since March 23.
The church’s food pantry also remains available; those needing assistance should call the church office first at (765) 738-6710.
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