Faith-based Gardening About to Take Root in Alabama By Jerry A. Chenault, Urban Regional Extension Agent

"Grapes, olives, and figs" That's about how many plants the average person can recall when asked to quickly name a few plants from the Bible. It seems likely that a thought rarely crosses our minds about biblical weeds, flowers, crops, or trees. Perhaps we should then ask, "Should it?" The answer may very well be "YES!"

That is what a group learned at the first official unveiling of the Ecumenical Gardens project in Moulton, Alabama. This project is a component of Saving Towns Thru Asset Revitalization (STAR) developed under the leadership of Marilyn Simpson-Johnson, Extension family welfare specialist at Alabama A&M University. The workshop was part of a thrust to let Alabama citizens know about the good things that faith-based gardens can do for them and other individuals.

Virtues abound whether the garden is used for prayer or as a maize, Zen, labyrinth, or biblical garden. This project, however, is designed to introduce individuals to the concept of "people and plant interaction" that can help to improve their quality of life. Research shows, according to Johnson, that green space interaction and interaction with plants does all kinds of good things for people and communities. The benefits include: increasing self concept, lowering blood pressure, decreasing domestic violence, and decreasing healing time. It has even been shown to have a positive effect on school grades. That's why the STAR program is using ecumenical gardens as a tool to help empower and rejuvenate municipalities and communities as part of our asset-based development program. In other words, it's a "win-win situation."

Imagine taking the good things that occur when people and plants are put together and adding a spiritual component---a tranquil and aesthetic place where people can go for introspection, prayer, meditation, and even education. That's what the Ecumenical Gardens project hopes to accomplish.

By the fall of 2006, an exhaustive resource manual will be ready. The next step is to help establish some demonstration garden projects. Three requests for assistance in establishing gardens have already been noted as coming from the first workshop in Moulton, and those participants were invited from only Morgan and Lawrence counties!

It seems the time has come to spread the good news! Stay tuned!

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