Service Project

Noah's first handful of grass

Last night, our Sunday School class and families took on a big project - the Goessel Elementary School Garden!  In spring, the classes planted seeds, and they grew, but so did the weeds.  Since school has ended, families signed up for weekly shifts to work in the garden, but weeds just grew faster than anyone could control.

So, we dug right in pulling weeds (sometimes digging them out with shovels), picking produce, and mulching around the vegetable plants.  I think we worked for about an hour and a half, but we didn't quite get everything accomplished.  It's our family's week to tend the garden, so we have a little work to do yet.  I was amazed at how most of the kids worked at it - some for the entire time.  Eventually, a game of soccer got going on the playground and drew some of them away.

It was a great evening, and I was reminded how fun it can be to work with others for a good cause. Most of us have our own gardens, so we didn't need the produce that we picked.  Luckily, the school gardener (a former classmate of mine) can take it all to her church to give out through their food pantry.

Thanks for a great evening, friends!

harvesting the kholrabi

Addi and Ty even came from Hesston.  That's the
beauty of a service project - helping a good cause
even when it doesn't directly benefit you!

Amy giving Levi some instructions - don't pull
out the carrots!

Just look at all that grass!

Gretchen's right in the thick of it

The boys began collecting our piles of weeds and taking them away
to be dumped

Jake and Tina clearing around the tomato plants

Norma even stopped by when she heard all the
activity.  We sent her home with a beautiful
zucchini and some tomatoes

Shari - master gardener!

Jake had his work gloves ready!

We finally turned the hose on so we could drink --
not sure if the water was good to drink or not, but
we're all still alive!

Pat and Eric

Emily made a great find!

Delaney made her rounds to socialize

Tina and Emily work on mulching -- see the beautiful plants?

I think my sister sneakily took this picture of me!