Hope Grows

PLANS FOR NEW COMMUNITY GARDEN TO YIELD FRESH FOOD AND DEEP RELATIONSHIPS

BHITC’s efforts at holistic, faith-based community renewal in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton & Stockyards neighborhoods have largely been shaped by listening to and coming alongside residents. For BHITC, programs that start with such input and wisdom are more likely to have a lasting impact. So, it’s no surprise that urban agriculture has emerged as a BHITC initiative now termed Hope Grows. There are community gardens on every block on the near west side!

The benefits of gardening are well known, including relieving stress and improving mental health – it’s one of our country’s biggest hobbies. In these communities, however, they are also providing access to needed fresh food, reclaiming neglected land and creating spaces for community connections.

Luis Luna, BHITC’s Hope Grows Coordinator and lifelong resident of Stockyards, led efforts throughout 2022 in successfully cultivating, maintaining and harvesting a new BHITC micro farm on West 61st Street. BHITC also managed four small fruit orchards on lots it has recently acquired. Last season’s yield at the micro farm exceeded expectations and resulted in an abundance of free, fresh produce for neighbors and the community. With momentum from such an encouraging inaugural year, we anticipate God is just getting started with how He will meet community needs through urban agriculture efforts.

Adding to this momentum, BHITC has recently partnered with Envision Cleveland to receive yet another new, community gardening space for 2023! Envision is a faith-based nonprofit serving the Mount Pleasant neighborhood shares in the vision of community restoration through neighborhood resources and urban gardening. They have lived out their mission of empowering and strengthening neighborhoods with a community garden located on West 43rd Street.

As God advances the good of Clark-Fulton through urban gardening, BHITC has now inherited the West 43rd Street Garden from Envision and will continue to operate it as a safe space for neighbors to meet and grow food and so much more. “We are excited to meet the residents and develop relationships in this part of the neighborhood,” says Luis. “We hope to learn how we can assist them, what we can provide for them and how we can meet their needs.”

The West 43rd Street Garden consists of 20 garden boxes, a compost bin, a water supply and a small gathering place. Residents adopt a box in the garden to plant, grow and harvest their own produce. “Not only will they directly reap the reward of their own hard work, they also become richer in gardening education and experience,” says Luis.

“The garden is about growing food,” says Anthony Giambroni, BHITC Community Development Manager, “But it’s also about growing people.” Beyond the blessing of the produce itself, residents will have the opportunity to learn patterns of a healthy lifestyle, food and environmental education, and recipes incorporating the produce. “We want this to serve as a learning lab for residents,” says Luis. “I am excited to see families growing their food together and forming new relationships with neighbors in the garden.”

Acquiring the garden from Envision made perfect sense for BHITC. Directly across the street from the new garden is located a home that BHITC has remodeled and one of its fruit orchards.

“The garden and orchard being available to residents in such a close proximity is a great resource for them,” says Luis. This increased accessibility to fresh food greatly meets the needs of those who fall victim to the existing food desert present in Clark-Fulton. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food desert as a low-income area further than one mile from a large grocery store or supermarket. “Depending on where you live in our neighborhood, you could be as far as four miles from a full fresh produce retailer,” says Anthony.

God has given the provision of the earth to all His children, including those in urban areas. As participating neighbors begin to plant and grow their own food, we pray they feel a sense of ownership and pride in their neighborhood and lifestyle. “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). We are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to carry on the good work Envision has begun with the West 43rd Street Garden and look ahead with great anticipation of how God will use it to further impact the community.