Second Delivery

Rivka sent out an email plea that there were cucumbers that needed to be picked NOW.

So I swung by and found 5 beautiful cukes. At several Ginaterites' approval I kept one for a Shabbos gazpacho at my house. But then I took the others to the Center for Food Action. I was unsure if 4 cucumbers were worth the delivery. It was hardly enough to divide up evenly for all the people I'm sure they serve.

I was there in time to see a few food bags being given to a woman. I don't know if they were for her family or if she was passing them on, but the man working there took two of the cucumbers and sweetly asked her if she'd like them. It was such a nice spark of kindness.

Press Release of First Harvest

Elyse Anderson sent out the following press release:

“THE LITTLE GARDEN THAT COULD”

A COMMUNITY TURNS A PASSION FOR ALL THINGS GREEN

INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEED OTHERS.

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The First Harvest from the Garden of Kehillat Kesher,

The Community Synagougue of Englewood & Tenafly

goes to the Center for Food Action.

August 19, 2009 (Englewood, N.J.) They call themselves the Green Shuls Committee and “green” they are, spreading the word to conserve, recycle ,use energy efficient light bulbs and organic household cleaning products. Their latest green message, “grow your own vegetables and share with your community”.

Ginat Kesher, (Kesher's community garden) was planted by its membership, both parents and children. The garden plot, located in the Wagner family’s Englewood backyard, (one of the growing synagogue’s 100 families), was prepped and tilled early one June Sunday and the following week the seeds, and plants were planted and the fence erected.

“It's been a fairly self sufficient garden, because we’re using the "paper" weed barrier, the tomato blight that's taken over the N.E. has not affected our crops. says member Rivka Miller. “Our blueberry bush produced a few berries, but we look forward to next year it being even bigger.“

When the volunteer farmers prepared to harvest, they thought about how best to distribute the food, should it be made available to the committee or entire membership. David Mark, chairperson of Kesher’s Green Shul’s Committee said, “The decision to give our crops away was easy, it’s what the Torah teaches us, the value of helping neighbors in need, we’re just happy to do our part”.

The first official harvest took place Sunday, August 16^th, 2009. “There are white and green beans, zucchini, eggplants, cucumbers and tomatoes as well as some herbs like dill, cilantro and oregano”, says member Yitzkak Gittelman. Most of the food will be donated to the Center for Food Action in Englewood.