By Heather Collins
Two Zionsville residents are transforming an empty piece of land by their church into a bounty of food for their neighbors in need.
God’s Bounty for Boone County, a project started by Zionsville Presbyterian Church members Mary Evenson and Greg Lanham, will provide fresh vegetables to the Zionsville Food Pantry and teach children and the men of the Jeremiah House how to grow food. The Jeremiah House is a ZPC ministry to help men who have graduated from the Wheeler Mission Hebron Addictions Recovery Program integrate back into society.
Evenson, an analytical chemist at Dow AgroSciences, and Lanham, a deputy chief for the Whitestown Fire Dept., wanted to help provide fresh food for those in need in their own community.
Evenson compared the project to the Victory Gardens that were planted during World War II to provide communities with a place to learn how to grow their own food, aid public food supplies and serve as a morale booster.
“This is really uplifting to work on,” Evenson said. “There’s been so much joy.”
The garden consists of six 4-feet by 8-feet plots. Dow AgroSciences provided seeds and plants that were grown in their greenhouses. Altum’s provided garden tools and GreenCycle provided soil at warehouse prices for the project. God’s Bounty for Boone County received a $250 grant from the Village Garden Club of Zionsville for start-up costs.
Evenson said the ultimate goal of the project is to serve people near where they live.
“I always think anything we do as a community is just precious,” Evenson said.
The group is seeking volunteers to weed and water the garden in the summer months. Community members are encouraged to help with the garden. For information or to volunteer, contact Evenson at [email protected].
The garden is next to the Zionsville Food Pantry, 4775 W. 116th St., and behind the Jeremiah House.
