We were recently spotlighted in the Plant A Row Newsletter !!!!
The following is excerpted from an August 2021 Plant A Row LV newsletter which published a feature on our newly relocated Garden of Mercy. How cool is that?
This week’s Garden Spot Light is on St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy at the Church of St. Ann’s in Emmaus.
The St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy was established in 2016, the same year Joseph Marlin founded Plant A Row Lehigh Valley (PARLV). The Knights became one of PARLV first drop off locations and were PARLV’s first pick up.
As PARLV has grown, so has the Knights Garden of Mercy. From 2016 – 2020 the Knights rented plots at Lower Macungie’s Bogie Community Garden. The first year the Knights rented one plot (Bogie #10) and yielded about 800 pounds of produce. Since then they have donated nearly 1,200 lbs. a year, with a record high of 1314.46 lbs. in 2018.
Last year the Knights planned on moving the garden to a location at St. Ann’s Church. Due to the pandemic, the preparation of the new garden was delayed and was not ready for the start of the season. The Knights made the decision to continue at Bogie while they readied the new garden. An Eagle Scout project to fence in the new garden was also delayed due to the pandemic. A temporary fence around the garden was no match for the deer, who ate the initial crops right down to the ground.
This year Supreeth Dmello completed his Eagle Scout project, which now surrounds a 56 by 52 foot garden plot on the grounds of St. Ann’s Church in Emmaus. Many hands have helped with the project. Debbie Cordes and her team planted flowers around the garden, St. Ann’s Troop 80 and the Knights of Columbus assisted in the installation of the fence to prevent deer from destroying the garden. Other parish members helped by making a backhoe available, helping to layout the plot and other tasks too numerous to mention.
The Knights goal for this year is to produce a yield of 1600 pounds. New Bethany Ministries is the designated recipient for all of the produce from the garden. The Knights also accept donations on Saturdays between 8 am and 12 noon.