Garden of the Twelve Baskets

"So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained." Matthew 14:20

 The "Garden of the Twelve Baskets" was established in the spring of 2008 on the school grounds comprising a garden of approximately 6000 square feet. It serves a dual purpose. First, and foremost, it was conceived of as a way to produce food to be distributed to local churches with food outreach programs. With food and fuel costs increasing at a sharp rate, the need for food in our community has risen dramatically. Not only would our garden help replenish the food banks with much needed items, these items would be fresh and organic, items sold in stores at a much higher rate making them out of reach for many families in need.

Secondly, it is seen as a project for our students to grow in the service of our Lord.  The garden is one of many means for our students to immerse themselves in projects that look outward to our neighbors; to move down that road from self interest to service as we read in Philippians 3:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." They are encouraged to take leadership roles in the management of the garden and gain a greater understanding of the issues surrounding hunger and food and to reach for that goal of being servant leaders.

   Garden facts:

   -6000 square feet

   -organic

   -Student-built greenhouse and chicken coop

   Crops grown: corn, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, broccoli, green leaf lettuce, spinach, cabbage, pole beans,
   bush beans, runner beans, tomatoes, beets, onions, eggplant, green peppers, potatoes, summer squash, peas,   
   winter squash, zucchini, pumpkins, musk melons, sunflowers