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 The Corners of the Field Community Garden needs you! :)
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
Each week, the Corners of the Field at Ahavas Israel provides three deliveries of squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, green beans, tomatoes, and--soon--potatoes to God's Kitchen. We will be delivering to the Temple Emanuel Food Bank on August 17. A small group of volunteers from Ahavas Israel, Temple Emanuel, and All Soul's water, harvest, and weed. As the week looks dry and the tomatoes ripen en masse this month, more help is needed!
If you would like to be on the Garden email list (and sign up for work times on the google doc spreadsheet), please contact
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 Marni Vyn and Diane Rayor
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The first summer of the Corners of the Field Community Garden was a success:
Dear Rick and the Corners of the Field Community Garden volunteers,
Thank you so much for the donation of your wonderful garden veggies. We use them daily and the clients love them. God Bless and thanks again!
Rob Miller - God's Kitchen
Shared Garden Grows Community, One Plant at a Time
 Four Month Service Project Brings Together Congregations to Support Local Food Banks
In launching the Corners of the Field Community Garden, local organizations are planning to accomplish more than just growing vegetables and flowers. And project organizer Rick Stevens says that’s exactly the point.
“There’s a need in our community and a desire to help,” explained Stevens. “We have unused land. Members of our congregation had talked about planting a garden for the past few years, and the ongoing need at local food banks for fresh produce pushed us to act.”
According to Jewish tradition, crops from the four corners of a field are reserved for charity. Corners of the Field Community Garden has extended that commitment, promising at least half of its produce to local food banks. Utilizing 3,000 square feet of available green space on the property of Ahavas Israel and donations from area businesses, the Corners of the Field will produce vegetables and honey – all destined for organizations in the greater Grand Rapids area.
“We’re going to donate 50% of our harvest to local charities. After that, each of the 30 households participating can choose to receive their equal share or to donate some or all to the food banks as well” said Stevens, noting that the organic garden is also meant to build a stronger community.
 To this end, more than a simple community garden is planned. The first step was outreach. Congregation Ahavas Israel, Temple Emanuel, All Souls Community Church, and Children’s Workshop Preschool are all participating. A children’s garden and beekeeping expanded the scope into interactive education, a notion which has in turn influenced the garden’s launch on April 22nd, 2010 the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
“We’re planning a hands-on evening of planting, learning, and fun” said Stevens. Volunteers are still welcome and additional supplies are still needed. Companies, individuals and families interested in participating are urged to contact the Ahavas Israel office at 616 949-2840 or
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* We have attracted Jews from all backgrounds - Reform, Conservative, Chabad and unaffiliated - to help with the planting, weeding, harvesting, etc. It has brought people together in a new, fun and enriching way.
* We have delivered many, many pounds of produce to God's Kitchen, a local soup kitchen serving the hungry in Grand Rapids.
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Gemilut Hasadim/Social Action 
