Gardening takes Root in Tar River
In North Carolina, spring and summer bring with them a special anticipation for gardeners across the state. There’s a unique kind of excitement that comes with watching something take root, not just in the soil, but in a community.
The Tar River Regional Office is celebrating this gardening season by expanding their gardening efforts through “Lettuce Love,” a fresh initiative under the Nourishing Our Neighbors (NoN) campaign. Lettuce Love is an expansion of their gardening efforts that began in 2022, but it takes community gardening a step further by allowing participants to bring the garden home with them. Through the program, families receive pre-planted buckets for families to grow at home, along with mentorship and support from Catholic Charities throughout the growing season. Participants not only learn gardening skills, but they get to experience the joy of harvesting their own food.
The success of the original garden beds and a dedicated volunteer base has already led to local produce being shared with our neighbors in need. The Tar River Office is one of four regional offices launching Lettuce Love to bring the NoN mission to life. The other offices leading the charge are Albemarle, Fayetteville, and New Bern.
As a campaign focused on addressing food insecurity with dignity and compassion, NoN emphasizes increasing access to fresh, healthy foods. Volunteer-run gardens that directly contribute to our food pantries embody that mission in an incredibly tangible way. Tar River Regional Director Liz McDowell reflected on watching this mission come to life over the last few years. “Much like gardening, our work is an act of faith. We plant seeds we may not immediately see grow, trusting that, with care and time, those seeds will take root and blossom through the lives of our neighbors.”
The Tar River’s gardening expansion, as well as the introduction of the Lettuce Love initiative, is the result of remarkable collaboration across the community. The food pantry’s garden beds were built by an Eagle Scout troop; seeds and buckets were acquired through Burpee Seed Co. and Epackage Supply; and volunteers were recruited and supported by Volunteer Garden Coordinator Nancy Smith, Recruiter Jean Merenda, and Joni Torres, the program’s new Garden Mentor. Each partner played a vital role in transforming a simple idea into a flourishing space of nourishment and connection.
With the first harvest on the horizon, Tar River’s Lettuce Love initiative stands as a joyful symbol of what can grow when a community comes together with purpose. The volunteers’ energy is high, the soil is nutrient rich, and the commitment to nourishing neighbors is stronger than ever. If you enjoy getting your hands in the dirt and feel inspired to support this effort, you’re warmly invited to join the Tar River garden volunteer team by visiting the page here.
