Church, Mosque, Synagogue, and Temple Gardens

Photo: Members of Redeemer Covenant Church help plant a community garden in Dutton.

Urban Agriculture is Supporting Faith, the Environment and Community

By Jac Smit © Sept 13, 2008

It is fair to say that faith-based groups have been leading urban agriculture for 25 or more years. Something has changed this movement in the 21st century. It is the merger of religion, social science and natural science. We now see faith based groups working with groups concerned with our civilization’s environmental survival as well as community building organizations. There may well be a new leadership for farming the city.

Church and other religious property is a major land use in urban areas. In general religious property does not pay taxes. Often it is a purposed gift not a purchase. Commonly the place of worship is centrally located within a community, town or city. This ‘idle’ land has a substantial potential to contribute to locally-based food systems.

Church property in a majority of cases can be considered as “the commons”. It’s purpose being to serve its community and may be owned by a community service not-for-profit organization.

Church grounds with vegetable gardening, plus some poultry and small livestock, have been in existence since medieval times. They were also a part of 18th and 19th century colonial development programs, used to feed the church and related school culinary needs and to introduce the colonial population to “modern” food practices.

See the rest of Jac Smit’s article here.

Some articles about Church gardens.

Hingham church raising veggies to offer at food pantry.

Church has plot to tackle food prices – Waukesha parish would like to turn lawn into gardens.

Sale of church garden produce helps food bank.

First Church Garden Growers – Video

A short documentary of the garden project at the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich, CT.