Harvesting Abundance
by Brian Sellers Peterson
Many congregations, schools, and organizations are reaching out into their neighborhoods to share God’s story of abundance by establishing community gardens, beehive colonies, and other agricultural initiatives. They are creatively using their land and property; providing training, inspiration, and cross-cultural experiences for all ages; while at the same time feeding the hungry and building community relationships. Too often food banks only take non-perishables loaded with preservatives and sodium. Church entities involved in agricultural ministries are able to provide healthy food from their gardens to feeding programs, food pantries, and others in need. This book tells the tale of 25 such communities in story and image. An inspiration for others to develop such projects, food, and faith can go hand-in-hand as we get our hands dirty while learning more about what Genesis 2 describes as God “planted” a garden. Gardening can be seen on the rooftop of a church in the city, beehives in the midst of a seminary, or a local community garden alongside the church’s parking lot. Discover where this movement is alive and growing, and find ideas for starting your own “food and faith” initiative in your own backyard, roof, or front porch.
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Endorsements of Harvesting Abundance
“Here is a book of concrete hope–stories of dirt you can dig your toes into, harvests you can eat, communities you can join. If you need good news (and we all do) then follow Brian Sellers-Petersen into the church yards and once empty lots, seminary campuses and charitable farms where new life is springing up in abundance.” ––Ragan Sutterfield, author of Wendell Berry and the Given Life
“Brian brings over 30 years of experience, faithfulness, and insights to this inspiring exploration of how we, as Christians and as The Episcopal Church, are called to use God’s abundance. He connects the global to the local and the spiritual to the temporal with his lively wit and characteristic warmth.” ––Robert W. Radtke, President, Episcopal Relief Development
“Sellers-Petersen whets our appetite for food, beauty, and justice, and presents a cornucopia of incarnate examples. This is a great opportunity to pray that ancient collect ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest…’ in a new context, in the fertile scripture of creation: read and grow, read and eat, read and share, and know that the earth in which we all have our origins is the stuff of divine creativity and abundant life.” ––Katharine Jefferts Schori, 26th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church
“Sellers-Petersen plants fruitful seeds through this collection of stories, showing us how the garden teaches the importance of good work and of Sabbath rest, the healing power of forgiveness, and the blessing of new life. Using tools of collaboration, creativity, and education, these communities care for God’s creation, practice hospitality, and address food insecurity. The gardener in all of us will connect to ‘the miracle of being able to plant a seed and watch it grow.’ (p. 64) Inspiring!” ––Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan, The Episcopal Church in Connecticut