25-09 - Flipbook - Page 40
Mi n i str i es
My third and fourth grade students at Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy, in Lynchburg,
VA, are learning all about gardening this year. It all started when I attended an agricultural
class taught by Angela (add other teachers here) during the NAD Teachers Convention in
AZ this summer.
Since I have returned to teaching after being a stay-at-home mom, my gardening has
been terrible. We moved to a location where our soil wasn't great, and my time was more
limited, so my garden was hit or miss. As I listened to the presentation, I felt God prompting
me, telling me that I needed to do this for my students. I told Him He knew I was a terrible
gardener, this was a huge project and that I couldn't do it because I was already so busy.
But as I listened to Angela, and then another teacher who was the only teacher at her
school, the wish kept growing that maybe I could do something small after all. The teacher
of the one-teacher school was saying how it was the biggest blessing to her, that it was
even relaxing, it had been reaching people spiritually, and she had her little garden committee of 4 people. Being the teacher of a one room school is the hardest and craziest job I
can imagine, and I figured if she could do it and love doing it, then maybe it was possible
to do. I loved the idea of growing this agricultural movement across all our Adventist
schools.
Having the hoop houses sounded so amazing, but knowing how horrible my current garden
skills are, I decided to start small, with raised beds. I knew it would be a little pricey, but that I
would at least be starting with decent soil. I was able to find the top soil and compost for
only about $3 per 2 cubic ft bag! This is where God is really showing up! My husband and I
donated the boards for the beds and my school paid for the 48 square feet of soil.
The "Planting with Jesus" book has been so foolproof! I'm following it very closely and it is
fantastic! It also helps having our What's App group to bounce ideas off and get encouragement. I was worried how I'd get the boards to the school, but God took care of that
worry. I was worried I wouldn't find soil so late in the season, but I did, and at a good price!
God has shown up again and again. My next worry is getting a decent hose and wand for
a good price, but I'm sure God has this in His very capable hands too! We also need garden tools, and need to make hoops to place a cover over to protect our plants from frost.
We might not get our seeds planted until the 1st 10 hour day in January, but it will happen in
God's perfect timing. I am already finding peace and joy in my heart during this project, because I am trusting God to lead it every step of the way. He is THE master gardener and He
obviously wants us to learn how to do this.
The students are really enjoying this and the conversations are great and funny! They are
learning a lot, moving their bodies, and doing something important and worthwhile. They
are keeping me accountable and continue to move this project forward! I am so grateful
to the team with the vision and hard work to put this together in such a remarkable way. It is
obvious that God put it on their hearts and He is blessing their efforts. God put Adam and
Eve in a perfect home in the new world He had created, a garden home, and I know He
will help us take care of our garden.
