Gardening for Good: Christ the Savior Lutheran Church’s Mission to Provide Produce for Food Pantries

Writer / Kara Reibel
Photographer / Brian Brosmer

“‘For the life of the world’ is a phrase used as a common conclusion to mission statements, prayers and conversations among members of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” shares Lutheran Bishop Bill Gafkjen.

This quote, while encompassing so much, ideally describes the mission of Christ the Savior (CTS) Lutheran Church’s in providing fresh produce to food banks in Hamilton County.

“Lutherans take very seriously creation care of this earth that God has given us to tend to,” says Pastor Libby Manning, who serves at CTS with newly-called Pastor Brian Derrer. “Cultivating a garden that supplies secure produce to food banks is a perfect use of our abundant land.”

The idea of the Lazarus Community Garden, as it is also known, was originally proposed by parishioner Wanda Henderson. “I was inspired by a trip to Honduras last fall,” shares Henderson, who works for Elanco. “I experienced a tour of Honduras Heifer Projects, which included animals raised for food, community gardening and beekeeping. It was in Honduras that my desire to provide fresh food and vegetables to those in need was ignited.”

Another influence inspiring Henderson was when she participated with Eli Lilly’s “Annual Day of Service” working at Indy Urban Garden. Impressed by the eight acres of Indianapolis Parks that are dedicated to providing fruits and vegetables to local food pantries, Henderson wished to organize a similar scenario in Hamilton County.

The church allotted one acre for the garden, and it was soon clear that many HOA covenants prohibited gardens, including where Henderson and her family live. “Our original idea was to start the project with about 1/4 of an acre and to bring the church together to create plots that community members could utilize,” says Henderson. “With the consultation from Indy Urban Acres Director Tyler, we decided to provide plots free of charge to members of the community with the understanding that they would commit to donating 50 percent or more of their garden to the local food bank.”

Today, there are about 30 individuals and families that have plots at the Lazarus Community Garden. All have agreed to donate at least 50 percent of their harvest to the local food banks. The Fishers Rotary is a strong partner with CTS for the Lazarus Community Garden. Fishers Rotary members are currently cultivating an additional 1/4 acre, donating 100 percent of their harvest to the Delaware Township food pantry whose mission is food security.

Future plans for the Lazarus garden include an extensive list of programs such as how to garden and rotate crops, planning, layout, what grows best in Indiana soil, how to cook those ‘odd’ vegetables, canning, rainwater collection and composting.

“We hope to eventually build a pavilion on the north side of the garden that will enable us to catch the rain water, wash vegetables on weekly harvest dates, store our tools for work days and provide us an outside space to hold programs,” shares Henderson. “A gardening camp for kids would also be nice to offer.”

“We believe that the church exists not for its own sake, but as an instrument of God’s care for all people and all creation,” shares Bishop Gafkjen. “In other words, the church exists for the life of the world.”

For more information on the Lazarus Community Garden, please visit christthesavior.org.