The garden: 10 years later

Ten years ago, Grantham Community Garden co-founders and English majors Francis Eanes ’09 and Dan Webster ’09, along with a group of fellow students, had an idea to start a campus garden. That organic idea took root and has turned into a teaching example of real-life concepts of sustainable agriculture at Messiah College.

Thanks to a small triangle of land next to the greenhouse and the hard work of passionate students and other helpers, the garden prospered and became an essential part of holistic Christian stewardship.

More than just an agricultural concept, the garden has become a means to educate students, faculty and the broader community about the environmental, social, nutritional and spiritual benefits of sustainable farming.

“The garden always has been and continues to be the generative product of countless students and their tireless efforts and imaginations,” said Eanes. Along with key faculty and staff who have steadfastly supported it over the years, the garden has survived and evolved directly because it is the result of ongoing collaboration and student initiative.”

Throughout the years, the garden has benefited the campus in significant ways.

“The garden has served as space for classrooms, a central part of service days and, because of its location, has been one of the most consistent landmarks on the south side of campus,” said Brandon Hoover, director of sustainability. “Students who have worked in the garden have gone on to pursue further education in food systems, started their own farms or are using food as a community development tool.”

Olivia Mingora ’17, psychology major and student manager of the garden, said that the garden has taught her a lot of about hard work, determination and Jesus.

There is a quote by George Bernard Shaw we have on the back of the garden T-shirts, and it goes like this, ‘The best place to find God is in the garden. You can dig for Him there,’” said Mingora. “This has been immensely true in my life and, I know, in many others’. This is one of the most important aspects of the garden as it gives people another avenue to experience Jesus.

For the garden’s founders, it has been a dream come true.

“There are many things that make me proud to see the garden mark its 10-year anniversary: watching new students catch the same spirit that inspired us all those years ago; seeing the garden grow and expand to new locations; and observing the garden’s integration into classes, coursework and individual research projects,” said Eanes. “It’s knowing that the garden continues to galvanize so many new personal connections and budding friendships, and showing the garden in its present form to my friends and family after all these years.”

— My Nguyen ’17