3547 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Phone: 513-861-1295
Pastor: Rev. Todd Grogan
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
THE
CHURCH
OF THE
A
NNUNCIATION
Catholic Parish
Mrs. Berger's Garden Project
St. Isidore, whose Feast Day is May 15th, was a farmer, and gardens are often blessed on his Feast Day. That is exactly what happened here at Annunciation Parish on the morning of Friday, May 15th, 2009! Our garden, initiated in 2008 by Annunciation parishioner/4th grade school teacher, Mrs. Kelly Berger, was blessed. Mrs. Berger and our 4th grade school students attended Mass May 15th to celebrate the Feast of St. Isidore, and then continued their prayer at the garden where Miss Lochard’s 3rd grade class joined us for the Blessing of the Garden, with Annunciation Pastor Father Todd Grogan presiding.
How did our garden begin? Some years ago when Mrs. Berger was attending Horticulture School at what was then Cincinnati Technical College, she knew that someday she would incorporate her love and knowledge of gardening into teaching. And that was certainly the case for Mrs. Berger during the 2008-2009 academic year - her first year teaching at Annunciation School! Mrs. Berger began the garden the summer of 2008 and she invited families to help with the planting. Families with children preschool through 7th grade accepted her invitation! The garden continued through the summer and into October.
In the fall of 2008, Mrs. Berger’s 4th grade class even made lunch for the 6th grade class, using their garden produce. What did they make? They made rosemary bread, a salad and a delicious pasta sauce using their herbs. The 4th graders even designed their own menu for the occasion. This spring (2009), Mrs. Berger’s class collected seeds to plant. They expanded their garden, and invited Miss Lochard’s 3rd grade class to help with the planting. This year they have planted lettuce, rosemary, parsley, radishes, strawberries, oregano, chives, leeks, peas, and the “Three Sisters” (corn, beans and squash). The children have already made tabouleh out of the parsley they are harvesting. They will also be planting tomatoes, peppers, and other herbs - such as stevia - which is a delicious, natural sweetener.
Mrs. Berger knows that the word “religion” literally means to “re-connect”, and she is discovering all of the connections that are made through gardening.
On a field trip, she and her students learned the legend of the Dogwood Tree and its connection with Jesus, and she is beginning to learn more about Mary’s Gardens and Mary’s Flowers. And her students are learning much more than just gardening and the spirituality of connecting with the earth! For example, on their own they had to figure out how to make a trellis for their peas.
The summer of 2009 Mrs. Berger conducted a weekly Garden Lunch Club, open to all youth in Annunciation Parish and at Annunciation School. The club met Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. - Noon. Mrs. Berger found out in September 2009 that she was awarded a $1,000 grant from Learning Links for her garden project!. Of course, you can also contribute to her Garden Project!
Click here to view all the photos in the 2009 Garden Photo Gallery.
The 2010 Garden Project
In the spring of 2010, Mrs. Berger's fourth grade students once again planted their garden. The grant money received from Learning Links was used to purchase such items as new tools, seeds, and plants. Mrs. Berger also plans to use some of the grant money for a statue, a new compost bin, grapes, and a structure to grow the grapes.
The 2010 Garden was blessed on May 17, 2010.
The Garden Lunch Club is once again meeting on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon throughout the summer of 2010 with fourth through sixth graders invited to participate, and some siblings joining them, as well.
Click here to view photos of the 2010 Garden being planted.
Click here to view photos of the Blessing of the 2010 Garden.
Click here to view photos of the 2010 Summer Garden Lunch Club.
The 2011 Garden Project
In the spring of 2011, Mrs. Berger's fourth grade students once again planted their garden.
The 2011 Garden was blessed on May 16, 2011.
The Garden Lunch Club will once again meet on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon throughout the summer of 2011.
