Community Garden

Marshall Community Garden

Location: Corner of N. Franklin and W. Rusk

Open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day, All year long

Contacts: Sandy Hoover (903) 472-8272 shoover@etbu.edu

Donny Seals (903) 407-0734 dseals@kilgore.edu

Origin and Purpose

First Baptist Church, Marshall has elected to become a missional church, that is, an effort by a body of Christians to reach out to non-believers in the community through the local culture. Some members of the church have decided to help spearhead the effort by establishing a community garden.

The garden's primary goals include the following: (1) loving our neighbors by meeting their physical needs and building community. As Matthew 25: 34-36 states, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation fo the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'" (2) The second goal is to reach people in the name of Jesus Christ. As Acts 1:8 states, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In sum, as Christians God calls us to value all humans because He created us to fellowship with Him and each other.

Is There a Need For a Community Garden?

We certainly think so. Statistics show that Marshall, TX is a community with more than its fair share of families struggling financially, and the current economic recession has amplified this problem. In addition, we believe individuals seeking community and relationships will also be attracted to the garden for the human connection it provides. Some may come for the experience of gardening, or be a part of the current trends toward growing local and/or organic food. Others may simply want to demonstrate to their children the origin of food.

Garden Format

The garden will contain individual 10 ft x 10 ft family plots, a communal plot where sprawling vine crops can be grown, and a kids patch. Families/individuals will maintain their own plots by weeding, harvesting, etc. Those opting to participate in the communal plot must work a minimum of two hours weeding, before reaping any of the harvest. FBC Marshall will provide the necessary gardening tools for participants. Moreover, it will supply seed and water free of cost. An automatic watering schedule will be set by the garden organizers. Garden participants must pay a one-time $5 membership fee. The garden will operate on a first-come-first-serve basis.