Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:

• Start a community garden, calling upon members of your faith community to tend it.
  • Establish clear volunteer expectations, procedures, schedules, etc.
  • Consider inviting others from the broader community to use the space as well.
    • Note that community gardens aren’t the right path for all faith communities. They are very labor intensive and require a significant commitment. There are also often many of them. If your community already has community garden spaces, or the commitment to a community garden feels like too much, check out other options below. 
• Does your place of worship have access to sunlight, water, and an acre or two? Partner with a local farmer in need of land.
  • Many young farmers struggle to make a living due to the cost of acquiring land. You can help! Be sure to ask questions about pesticide use as a part of your agreement. You can also ask if the farmer would be willing to donate a percentage of produce to congregation members or a local food bank/partner! 
• Do you have a lot of land? Or enough for some homes? Housing affordability/availability may be what your community needs.
  • Learn more from Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC and check out the BeLoved tiny house community at Land of the Sky UCC in Asheville, NC. 
• Implement a “Monarch Waystation” on your property.
• Set up a bird and pollinator-friendly garden on your property.
• Become a “Sacred Grounds” certified congregation through the National Wildlife Federation.
• Bring permaculture principles into your property (whether you help steward a garden, forest, or flowers, permaculture can help you tend land responsibly). 

General Information Related to this Strategy:

• 10 steps to starting a community garden
• How to create a pollinator garden
• 7 steps to create a permaculture garden
• Invite a permaculturist to your congregational land and receive tips from them for next steps
• Films:
  • Inhabit
• Sacred Grounds 

Available resources in Western North Carolina:

• Invasive species resources from MountainTrue
• Toxic Free NC
• Farmers of Color Network -RAFI
• Come to the Table -RAFI
• Resourceful Communities 
• Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC
• BeLoved Tiny House Village 

Local Faith Communities Currently Utilizing this Strategy:

• New Hope Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
  • Contact Nan Riley: revjohnanfnp@aol.com
• Holy Episcopal Church, Mars Hill, NC
• First Congregational United Church of Christ, Hendersonville, NC
• Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
• Congregation Beth HaTephila, Asheville, NC
• Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, Asheville, NC
• Mills River Presbyterian Church, Mills River, NC (Garden Rolling on Wheels)
• Haywood Street Congregation, Asheville, NC
• Grace Church in the Mountains, Waynesville, NC
• Church of the Transfiguration, Saluda, NC