Warner Memorial's "Shepherd's Garden" is in its tenth year of planting, tending and harvesting to serve others.  This year we welcome our neighboring congregation at Temple Emanuel, whose members are joining Warner on this garden project.  Together, we'll continue the tradition of growing produce for the Shepherd's Table community hunger relief program in Silver Spring.

The garden began as an Eagle Scout project by Casey McGrath in 2010.  Later, Karen Buitano (a Girl Scout at the time), led the effort.  Recently, Susan Bresee and June Eakin have taken the lead in maintaining the Shepherd's Garden.  If you can spare a few hours to help them, please contact the church office and they can arrange to get together with you.

This garden serves several purposes for the community:

• First, its crops help feed the homeless and hungry of Montgomery County. In previous years, the produce was donated to the Mid-County United Ministries of Wheaton and Shepherd's Table of Silver Spring, food shelters that together feed an average of 3,000 people every month. This year, the harvest was primarily donated to Shepherd's Table.  

• Secondly, the Community Garden is an interactive, outdoor classroom. Gardening is a great vehicle for encouraging children and young people to make good food choices, doing experimental learning, building a love of nature, stimulating social interaction, and more !

• It is also a great opportunity for folks here to roll up our sleeves and help...

Our Church teaches stewardship of the Earth and responsibility for the poor. The environmental and social justice aspects of growing food – not to mention community-building and personal spirituality – is “taking root” at Warner.

If you are looking for a great vegetable recipe, consider the Spinach-Lentils Soup. It is filling, healthy - perfect for a Fellowship Hour!

Last summer at Fellowship Hour, the harvest of the Shepherd’s Garden was made available to congregants in exchange for a donation to Shepherd’s Table. Any veggies left were taken to Shepherd’s Table along with the cash. In 2020, without in-person worship or Fellowship Hour, this ministry continues with a pivot. On Saturday mornings from 9:00-10:30, a gardener will come to the Garden to harvest and you can come to the patio to choose your vegetables and leave a donation. If you would like to know what is likely to be harvested, get on the weekly ST Harvest email distribution list, send a message to june.eakin@mac.com.