Wheatland’s Garden of Grace combats climate change
Editor:
In times past, one could judge the early success of a garden by whether a ripe tomato could be harvested for the 4th of July. However, with the rise in temperatures due to climate change, we may have to adjust that date. One community in Buchanan has been responding to this climate crisis by creating a community garden.
Carbon pollution is a key contributor to the Greenhouse Effect, in which heat from the sun is trapped into the Earth’s atmosphere, raising its temperature. One way of decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is through a process called carbon sequestration. This is when plants suck the carbon from the air and store it in their tissues and soil. Therefore, planting and cultivating a garden is one way of directly combating climate change.
Wheatland Lutheran Church in Buchanan recognizes this power of gardening and has developed its own Gardens of Grace project. This began when Pastor Chuck Miller planted vegetables in raised beds on the church’s property near its picnic shelter. That first year’s bounty was shared with the Botetourt Food Pantry and other community members. Miller, who will readily tell anyone that he did not enjoy gardening as a child, has now inspired church and community members to work in the Garden of Grace in order to provide fresh produce for families experiencing food insecurity.
Most recently, the church applied for a grant through Virginia Interfaith Power and Light’s Challenge for Green Futures Program. Using the support from this grant, the church was able to install a drip irrigation system in the garden. This has allowed them to expand their project to provide healthy and sustainable food to even more people.
In partnership with Feeding America, the church has become a pick-up point for families seeking shelf-stable food. Wheatland Lutheran and its generous community donors supplement the shelf-stable meals with fresh fruit and produce in season. Along with another Feeding America location, the church now provides upwards of 70-80 children with food that they would otherwise do without, simultaneously fighting for both climate justice and food justice.
It’s growing season in Botetourt County, as it is in most of Virginia, and this community garden will feed those who most need it, in the food desert between the southwestern towns of Buchanan and Fincastle. Therefore, the Gardens of Grace serve as an example of how faith communities can join the movement to mitigate climate impacts and serve the broader community.
Hira Azher,
Outreach Coordinator,
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
Thank you to all who helped with the Buchanan Carnival
Editor:
Over the past year we have witnessed the best of “small town America” in action as Buchanan prepared to host the 67th annual Buchanan Community Carnival. We are proud to say this event is one of the longest continually running events in the valley.
The town is blessed by the generous outpouring of the community towards the Buchanan Community Carnival. From beginning to end, residents, civic organizations, churches, local governments and volunteers from the community pooled their time, talents and resources together to host an event we all can be proud of. None of this would have been possible without their support.
During the course of the year, organizational meetings were held with former and new volunteers to ensure a smooth operation for this year’s carnival. Committee chairpersons organized volunteers to operate each and every booth, volunteers cleaned and repaired kitchens, game stands, bathrooms and the Town Park before, during and after the event ensuring the safety and enjoyment of our thousands of guests.
For nine days, dozens of volunteers donated hundreds of hours. We are extremely grateful to them. Despite the long stretch of heat and humidity, the high standard of quality set by volunteers for this year’s carnival enabled us to host a family-oriented event which will live in the hearts of today’s children for years to come.
On behalf of the Town of Buchanan and myself, I wish to give a heartfelt “thank you” to each and every individual, group and business for your contributions to this year’s event. We are humbled by your dedication and generosity, it has truly been a privilege to work with you. To the public who attended the carnival over the course of nine days, thank you for your support.
Again, to our volunteers, thank you for the opportunity to work with you, and thank you for all of your efforts.
Harry Gleason
Community Development
Town of Buchanan
