Garden of the Month - Planting Seeds, Growing Faith (Advent Lutheran Church Community Garden, Arlington)

For the past 5 years or so, Advent Lutheran Church in Arlington has been developing a community garden with the help of several community partners.  Currently there are 7 raised beds that have been built by local Boy Scouts and Eagle Scout projects.  Other school and youth groups have also contributed at various times.  There are 3 other growing beds, several fruit trees and a compost pile.  For the past several years there has been an ongoing relationship with the Tucker Head Start Center of the Tarrant County Child Care Associates.  Families and staff from the Head Start Center help to plant, maintain and harvest produce grown in the garden.  The produce from the garden is shared with the families at the Head Start Center.  This year Advent received several flats of seedlings including tomatoes, squash, peppers and broccoli through the Tarrant Area Food Bank which were shared with the Head Start Center.  The goal of this partnership is to offer an opportunity for pre-school children and their families to experience the planting, growth and harvest of fresh vegetables; particularly when they have a limited opportunity for this experience.

Maintaining a garden is a constant challenge.  There is a small group of church members who loyally weed and water the beds.  For more information about this garden or how you may help, please contact Karen Riley: kriley18@outlook.com.

What We're Planting Now - November 2015

The ever-elusive first frost date is approaching in the next few weeks and it is getting close to the end of the fall planting season. Check out what our local community and school gardens are working into the ground before it gets too cold!

Katie and Lauren re-seed some root vegetables and greens in raised beds at The Learning Garden (FW)

Many root vegetables and hardy greens do well over the winter in North TX - especially if you have the means to cover them when frost is predicted.

Surround your fall crops with onions,
garlic and herbs!

Snap Peas peeking up through the mulch!

Some fall veggies are already
starting to produce!

Check out these local events that can help guide you to a successful fall and winter garden:

• Winter Gardening: Putting Your Garden to Rest for the Winter (Bedford)
• Protecting Your Plants from Frost (Fort Worth)

REAL School Gardens (local office in Fort Worth) works to install and utilize learning gardens in schools with majority low-income students. The gardens are used for outdoor, hands-on learning that benefit all children. Check out what they have been up to this fall!

Teachers at Cannon Elementary in Grapevine make observations and take notes about how they can use the garden for their students!

This BEAUTIFUL garden at Kramer Elementary in Dallas will make a wonderful teaching and learning environment! 

Volunteers from Time Warner help to revitalize the beds at DeGoyler Elementary in Dallas! 

For more information about the Tarrant County Food Policy Council or our Community Garden and Urban Agriculture working group, visit our website!