Good Hope UMC farmers donate to God's Garden

Some church members of Good Hope United Methodist Church grow produce to sell at the church's weekly God's Garden to raise money for a building fund. About $9,000 was raised in 2013.

The harvest is plentiful, and the laborers are vast.

Appropriately, the project entering its second season is called God's Garden at Good Hope United Methodist Church. Last year it generated $9,000, which was a bountiful yield for produce that was sold under the church's picnic shelter.

Parishioners are hoping for an equally good return this year as the church in the Reedy Creek community begins the project again Saturday at the same locale.

Proceeds go toward building a family life center, which is a vision of the church that has no definitive timetable for the structure. The construction plans include moving the parsonage and relocating it this summer. There are other projects, too, that will benefit the building fund, such as bake sales and the sale of freshly cut flowers, which will gear up in the next two months.

Those who visit the produce stand can rest assured they will be purchasing vegetables fresh from Davidson County soil. All of the produce is donated by farmers who are members of the church.

"Lots of folks in our church are farmers. Some are hobby farmers," explains Debbie Vestal, one of the many volunteer organizers. "They donate all of produce."

Vestal said last year they began to wonder what to do with what they didn't sell.

"We decided to donate it to Greater Things Outreach Center in Welcome. It's a win-win situation. That way, it is also benefitting other folks with what we have."

Vestal noted that the produce is competitively priced. "We go by fair market price. It was very successful last year. We've had people calling to see if we were going to do it again this year."

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Good Hope UMC farmers donate to God's Garden