In April 2013, students from San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) in San Anselmo established two garden beds in the family housing units. Thanks to a mini-grant from Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative earlier this year, they were able to expand to five beds, using the money to purchase wood, soil, and plants. The garden provides food for low income students and has been a great catalyst for building community within family housing between Korean students, American students, and their neighbors. The garden serves as a gathering spot for both adults and children who tend it throughout the year.
The project has been coordinated by a current SFTS student, Nick Morris. Morris reports,”There have been many “wins” regarding this project from the start. The garden was inspired by our late classmate, Kimberlee Rasmusson (2013 M’Div), who was passionate about healthy eating and community building. When I planted the idea to start the garden in memory of Kimberlee the project took on a life of its own with residents, local business, and the seminary all contributing to make it happen. At the start, residents provided the labor, the seminary provided water, a local landscape company provided soil, and two nurseries provided plants. The plants grew into a beautiful garden and brought together residents and neighbors, young and old to plant and tend the garden. Then we received the ISFC grant and it brought new life with the addition of three beds. Our first planting of fall crops coincided with a beautiful garden dedication ceremony of The Garden Soul on October 24, 2014 and was a FoodDay.org event… Thank you to ISFC for helping our garden grow!” The garden was featured in the Ross Valley Reporter.
