Church, Mosque, Synagogue, and Temple Gardens

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. (1.) 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.

It is a surprise to some of us that the church garden in the 21st century is increasing its popularity. I don't remember a single church garden in my youth, despite attending at least a dozen churches in six American states. 

However when I converted to being a world traveler, I found a few. A decade ago I studied a farmer's cooperative operating on Mosque land, near the center of Dar es Salaam Tanzania.  In Beirut, my friend Joe Nasr, reports that there are a dozen or more church grounds being farmed for home and market, and they are part of the future plan for the city. My work in Port au Prince Haiti included a church with intensive food production on the grounds and in a large greenhouse. (2.)

In the 1980s New York City, at a time that vacant lot and community gardening was flourishing, Saint John's Cathedral took a leading role in vegetable gardening education and feeding the poor, on site.  At about the same time religious leaders of diverse faiths came together to initiate and support community gardens in Washington DC and Detroit Michigan.

Twenty five years later, in 2008, Los Angeles has a new Church Garden.  [Westchester Holy Nativity] It is founded by parishioners group called "Environmental Change-Makers". Concerned with climate change, at a time of rising costs of food and fuel, they initiated a process defined as "repurposing the church property. This process was assisted by Detroit's "Urban Farming" organization. This project is basically a "lawn to garden" project which has applicability at hundreds of churches. (3.)

In Dallas Texas there was an interesting ceremony last fall at which Bishop Katharine Jeffers Schori walked in a 'well vestmented' procession around the four boundaries of the new garden at the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle. She asked for soil rich and free from pollution and seasonable weather with gentle rain. In this case there was an element of returning to the churches historical values [the website]. (4.)

The Washington Post last week reported that Catholics in Michigan, Congregationalists in Massachusetts and Methodists in Virginia are currently starting-up organic gardens on their properties. (5.)

We may ask the question has the religious leadership in the urban agriculture renaissance reached a Tipping Point?  What appears to be happening is that the Consilience of concerns with global warming, loss of community and the cost of food occurring worldwide have generated a new energy in religion. And this Consilience has both the land and the membership to make it work.

I have identified a few cases.  There are hundreds. Please add and comment.

References:

1. Consilience, 2006, E. O. Wilson

2. Descriptions and photos of these projects are on file at the     Urban Agriculture Network

3. www.holynativity@sbcglobal.net

4. www.northtexasremainepiscopal.org/VegetableGarden-n-Dallas.html

5. WashPost, September 6, 2008, G. J. MacDonald