TBC joins crop-planting effort to feed communities

Posted June 11, 2012 at 9:43 AM, Filed Under: Community News, Front Page, Village Mill

By Tammy Tipton-Nay & Wendy McCaig
Special Correspondents

A recent successful collaboration between The Brandermill Church, Salisbury Presbyterian Church, Shalom Farms, Embrace Richmond (ER), and residents of the Hillside Court community produced hard work that will ultimately result in fresh food on many tables throughout some of Richmond’s most food-challenged communities.

After working together planting cucumbers, mulching plants and harvesting turnip greens, the diverse group enjoyed a delightful picnic The effort was coordinated by Embrace Richmond, a faith-based nonprofit organization that helps communities by empowering residents and engaging people of faith in works of service.

ER was founded in 2004, when Founder and DirectorWendy McCaig met a homeless woman; they became friends, and began serving other homeless families together. Shalom Farms, founded in 2008, is an initiative of the United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond, whose goals are to increase access to healthy foods in the inner city, to build community, and improve the self sufficiency of those involved.

The Brandermill Church, Salisbury Presbyterian Church, and Embrace Richmond are making plans to visit the farm often during the summer. Those who are interested in becoming a part of this exciting community endeavor should email Tammy Tipton-Nay, the director of Children and Family Ministries at The Brandermill Church, at tammy@brandermillchurch.org.
Shalom Farms believes “together we grow healthy food, families and friends.”